EXPERIMENT NO.

9
AIM:To determine the effective efficiency and the speed characteristics of the
DC series motor.

Apparatus Required:

 Ammeter
 Tachometer
 Multimeter
 Resistive load

Theory

DC series motor

Like any other motor, series motors convert electrical energy to mechanical
energy. Its operation is based on simple electromagnetic principle by which
when the magnetic field created around a current carrying conductor
interacts with an external magnetic field, a rotational motion is generated.

Parts and Principles of operation of a DC series Motor

A DC series motor has all the 6 fundamental components-axle, rotor

(armature), stator, commutator, field magnet(s) and brushes-that are present
in a generic DC motor. The motor casing where two or more electromagnet
pole pieces are housed forms the stationary part of the motor, the stator. The
armature, windings on a core, electrically connected to the commutator
comprise the rotor. Rotor has a central axle about which the rotor rotates in
relation to the stator. Power is supplied to the armature windings through the
stationary brushes touching the rotating commutator.
A typical DC motor layout is given in the following diagram:

In series motors stator windings and field windings are connected in series
with each other. As a result the field current and armature current are equal.
Heavy currents flow directly from the supply to the field windings. To carry
this huge load, field windings are very thick and have few turns. Usually
copper bars form stator windings. These thick copper bars dissipate heat
generated by the heavy flow of current very effectively.

The stator field windings S1-S2 in the above diagram are in series with the
rotating armature A1-A2.

In a series motor electric power is supplied between one end of the series
field windings and one end of the armature. When voltage is applied, current
flows from power supply terminals through the series winding and armature
winding. The large conductors present in the armature and field windings
provide the only resistance to the flow of this current. Since the cross
sectionof these conductors are so large, their resistance is very low. This
causes the motor to draw a large amount of current from the power supply.
When the large current begins to flow through the field and armature
windings, the coils reach saturation that results in the production of strongest
magnetic field possible.

The strength of these magnetic fields provides the armature shafts with the
greatest amount of torque possible. The large torque causes the armature to
begin to spin with the maximum amount of power and the armature starts to
rotate.

Speed of DC Series Motors

In series motors, a linear relationship exist between the current flowing

through the field windings and the amount of torque produced. As heavy
currents flow through the very thick series field windings, large torques are
produced in series motors. This feature makes series motors to be used as
starter motors for industrial applications. Series motors can move
comparatively heavier shaft loads. A series motor can start an automobile’s
engine by drawing a heavy current of 500A. In a factory series motors can
help operate huge cranes by carrying several thousands of amperes. Series
motors generally operate for a very less duration, about only a few seconds,
just for the starting purpose.
Applications

Series Motors can generate huge turning force, the torque, from its idle state.
This characteristic makes series motors suitable for small electrical
appliances, mobile electric equipments, hoists, winches etc. Series motors are
not suitable when a constant speed is required. The reason is that the speed of
series motors varies greatly with varying load. Regulating the speed of series
motors is also not an easy process to implement.

Advantages of DC series motors

 Huge starting torque

 Simple Construction
 Designing is easy
 Maintenance is easy
 Cost effective

Universal Motor

Series Motors are widely termed universal motors. They operate equally well
from either an AC voltage source or a DC voltage source.

Equivalent Circuit Diagram:

+
IA RA
RF
+
VF +
VT
EA
IF
LF
-
-
-
Figure 1: Equivalent circuit of the rotating DC machine
The equivalent circuit of a DC motor is shown in Figure1.The field circuit is
represented by a resistance Rϝand inductance Lϝ in series.We consider steady
state operation in which the currents are constant, and we neglect the
inductance because it behaves as a short circuit for DC currents.Thus, for field
currents, wehave

VF  R F .I F ……………………………………………………………………….…………….. (1)
The voltage Eₐshown in the equivalent circuit represents the average voltage
induced in the armaturedue to the motion of the conductors relative to the
magnetic field.In a motor, Eₐis sometimes called abackemf because it opposes
the applied external electrical source.The resistance Rₐis the resistance ofthe
armature windings plus the brush resistance.

The induced armature voltage is given by

Ea  k.m ………………………………………………..…………………………..(2)

In which K is a machine constant,  is the magnetic flux produced by each

stator pole, and 𝜔mis theangular velocity of the rotor.

The torque developed in the machine is given by

Tdev  K.I a ………………………………………………………………………………..(3)

in which Iₐ is the armature current.

The developed power is the power converted to mechanical form, which is

given by the product ofdeveloped torque and angular velocity.

Pdev  m .Tdev ……………………………………………………………………….(4)

This is the power delivered to the induced armature voltage, and therefore, is
also given by
Pdev  Ea I a ……………………………………………………………………………..(5)

Series connected DC Motor

The equivalent circuit of of a series-connected DC motor is shown in Figure 2.

The fieldwinding is in series with the armature.

Field Armature
LF RF RA

IA=IF
+
+
VT EA
- -

Figure 2: Equivalent circuit of the series-connected DC motor

In series DC motors, the field windings are made of larger diameter wire and
the field resistances are much smaller than those of shunt machines of
comparable size. This is necessary to avoid dropping too much of the source
voltage across the field winding.

Next we derive the relationship between torque and speed for the series
motor.We use a linear equation to approximate the relationship between
magnetic flux and the field current.In equation form we have

  K F .I F ……………………………………………………………………………..(6 )
in which Kϝ is a constant that depends on the number of field windings, the
geometry of the magnetic circuit, and theB- H characteristics of the iron.The
actual relationship of between  andIϝis nonlinear, due to magnetic
saturation of the iron. Equation(6) will give an insight into the behavior of the
series DC motor. Later we consider saturation effects.

Because I a  Fa in the series machine, we have

  K F I a ………………………………………………………………………. (7)

Using Equation(7) to substitute for in Equation(2) and Equation(3) we

obtain

Ea  K K F m I a ……………………………………………………………….. (8)

Tdev  KK F I a2 ………………………………………………………………… (9)

If we apply Kirchhoff's voltage law to the equivalent circuit shown in Figure 2,

we get

VT  RF I a  Ra I a  Ea ……………………………………………………………………… (10)

As usual, we are assuming steady-state conditions so that the voltage across

the inductance is zero.

Then using Equation(8) to substitute for Eₐ in Equation(10) and solving for Ia,
we have

VT
Ia 
 Ra  RF  KK F m  ……………………………………………………..……… (11)
Finally using equation (11) to substitute for Iₐ in equation (9),we get a
relationship between torque and speed.
 KK F VT2
Tdev  ……..…………………………………………………….(12)
 Ra  RF  KK F m 
2

PROCEDURE:

RM
+ A1 - +
AL
-
+ A1 + B1 IL

VM M G VL RL
VIN
(0-220 V DC) - A2 - B2
D1
D2

E1
+ -
AF
E2 - +
(0-230)V DC

Figure 4: Circuit diagram to perform load test of DC series motor.

The experimental setup consists of a DC series motor mechanically coupled to

the DC separately excited shunt generator. The loading of the DC series motor
is done by electrical loading of the DC separately excited shunt generator.

1. The circuit is connected as per Figure 4.

2. The resistance (RM) connected in series to the armature and field winding
is kept at its maximum position.

3. The applied DC voltage to the armature and field windings is slowly

increased up to 160V across motor.
 4. Gradually the value of RM is decreased and simultaneously the speed of the
series motor is noted down till it reaches to the rated speed.

5. Slowly the field voltage is increased up to the rated field voltage.

6. The loadings are changed to get different readings.

7. The main switch is switched off to stop the motor.

OBSERVATION

For160V & 260V

Input Output
voltag Input power of
e current Output motor
to to Input Load Power Of (Pout= Efficiency
motor motorI power to current generator of motor
Vm m motor Pm N(rpm) WM= IL VL Pgo=VLIL T= (%)

Assume the efficiency of the generator is 85%

Pre-experimental Questions

1) What is the working principle of a DC series motor?

2) What will happen if a DC series motor is connected to an AC supply?
3) Why a DC series motor has a high starting torque? What are its
applications?
4) Explain the effect of magnetic saturation on speed characteristic.
 5) What are the pre-conditions for determining speed characteristic of DC
series motor?
6) Why DC series are motor never started without any load?

Post-experimental Questions

1) What are ratings of the equipments used during the experiment?

2) Explain the nature of torque speed characteristics.
3) Compare the experimental curve with the theoretical one and comment
on the differences between the two.
4) Why speed drop at increased load torques remain almost negligible?
5) Why does the speed of DC series motor high at low torque?