Question 1: Explain the need of a starter for a large D.C motor.

Answer: A large D.C motors requires a large starting current during starting. Since the armature resistance is very small (less than 1). This large large amount can burn the armature winding. Hence resistance must be added in the armature circuit during starting. This incorporative in a D.C motor starter. Question 2: Explain the process of self-excitation for a D.C generator. Answer: Modern D.C generators with field coils are self-excited, where some of the power output from the rotor is used to power the field coils. The rotor iron retains a residual magnetism when the generator is turned off. The generator is started with no load connected, the initial weak field creates a weak voltage in the stator coils, which in turn increases the field current, until the machine builds up to full voltage. Question 3: Identify the symptoms of poor commutation in a D.C machine (motor & generator) and explain how to overcome poor commutation. Answer: since most generators supply power to varying loads, some means other than shifting the brushing must be provided. One method is to install small poles midway between the main poles. These are called interpoles and are connected in series with the armature. The purpose of the interpoles is to provide flux so that the rotational emf produced in the dundergoing commutation cancels out the reactance emf of the coil. Interpoles are as important in motors as they are in generators. If a motor were not equipped with some means of compensating for armature reaction, the brushes would have to be shifted with every change in load.

Question 4: Explain with aid of a diagrams armature reaction in a d.c machine and explain how to overcome armature reaction. Answer:

All current-carrying conductors produce magnetic fields. The magnetic field produced by current in the armature of a dc generator affects the flux pattern and distorts the main field. This distortion causes a shift in the neutral plane, which affects commutation. This change in the neutral plane and the reaction of the of the magnetic field is called armature reaction. As shown in diagram 1 above, consider a two pole machine having an armature with eight slots and two conductors per slot. The front end connections of the armature winding are represented by curved lines between the conductors and the commutator segments. Those on the outside of the armature represent the back end connections. The armature winding is of the double layer type, like all modern D.C windings. The end connections of the outer layer are represented by full lines and the inner layer is represented by dotted lines. A and B are brushes placed so that they are making contact with conductors which are moving midway between the poles and have therefore no e.m.f induced in them. When the armature moves anticlockwise, the direction of the e.m.fs generated in the various conductors is opposite to that of the currents. This is shown in Diagram 2(b) by dots and crosses. As shown Diagram 2(a) where the end connections are omitted, it is usual to show the brushes midway between the poles.

Since most generators supply power to varying loads, some means other than shifting the brushes must be provided. One method is to install small poles midway between the main poles. These are called interpoles and are connected in series with the armature. The purpose of the interpoles is to provide flux so that the rotational emf produced in the coil undergoing commutation cancels out the reactance emf of the coil. Interpoles are as important in motors as they are in generators. If a motor were not equipped with some means of compensating for armature reaction, the brushes would have to be shifted with every change in load. Question 5: Explain with aid of diagrams the two (2) methods used to control the speed of a d.c motor. In each case state the effect of increasing the resistance of the variable resistor. Answer: By connecting a variable resistor in series with the field winding.

If we increase the resistance of the variable resistor, R, due to ohms law, this would cause a decrease in the field current, If. since Is equals to If + Ia due to Kirchhoffs current law, this would cause an increase in the armature current, Ia. since the armature current, Ia is proportional to the speed of the motor, n. this results in an increase in the motors speed. Similarly a decrease in R would result in a decrease in the motor speed, n.

 By connecting a variable resistor is in series with the armature winding.

If the resistance of the variable resistor is increased this would cause a decrease in the armature current, Ia due to Ohms law. Since the armature current is proportional to the speed. This would result in a decrease in the motor speed, n. Similarly if the variable resistor is decreased, this would increase the armature current, which would increase the motor speed, n. Question 6: Sketch a cross-sectional diagram of a D,C motor and identify seven (7) different parts. Answer:

Cross-sectional Diagram of a D.C motor

Question 7: Sketch circuit diagrams for the following types of D.C machines: A. Series B. Shunt C. Compound wound Answer: A. Series

B. Shunt

C. Compound Wound

Question 8: Explain what is the critical field resistance for a D.C generator. Answer: Critical field resistance is the minimum resistance of a shunt wound generator field winding that will give a proportional increase in terminal voltage with respect to field current.

Question 9: Sketch the toque/speed characteristic for : A. Series wound motor B. Shunt wound motor Answer: A

Question 10: (1) Explain why the terminal voltage of a shunt generator driven at constant speed, falls when load increases. (2) Describe with aid of a diagram one method of restoring the terminal voltage of the above generator to its original values.

Answer: (1)The terminal voltage will decrease with an increase in load because of the armature RaIa drop and the armature reaction. However, when V decreases, the field current in the machine decreases with it. This causes the flux in the machine to decrease, decreasing E, thereby causing the terminal voltage to drop still further. Terminal voltage on a shunt generator decreases as load increases because as the load current on a generator having a constant field current and running at constant speed increases and hence the armature voltage drop, IaRa increases. The generated voltage, E, is larger than the terminal voltage, V , and from the voltage equation for the armature circuit, , E being a constant causes V to decrease with increasing load. (2)One method of restoring the terminal voltage is by connecting a variable resistor in series with the field winding. Increasing the variable resistor, R, would decrease the field current, If, and by increasing the load current, IL, (since Ia is constant). Since VT IL. Therefore VT increases. IL

If VT Rf

Question 11: State four losses of a D.C machine. Answer: Four losses of a D.C machine: Copper Loss Iron Loss Friction and Windage Loss Brush Contact Loss

Question 12: Sketch and label a circuit diagram showing the field and armature connections for a separately excited D.C machine. Answer: