DC Machines

Recap of last lecture

Lorentz force law
DC motor fundamentals

Reading for this lecture

P. C. Sen. Principles of electric machines and

power electronics


3.3 & 4.2 Covered in lecture

M. El-Hawary. Principles of Electric Machines

with Power Electronic Applications

Available as e-book
from UQ library

Mechanical forces in electromechanical

systems

What happens if the mass is moved from x = x1 to x = x2

such that the air gap decreases?
x
g
R

e
Spring

fm =

W f ( , x )
x

=
= const

W f ( i, x )
x

i = const

Linear systems

If reluctance of core is negligible compared with

air gap, flux linkage-current relationship is linear
function of air gap length.

Hence, field energy is:

Wf = i d =
0

=
=

L ( x)

x
g

2L ( x )
1
L ( x ) i2
2

= L ( x)i

e
Spring

Linear system

The force between the immovable part

and the plate is
fm =

W f ( , x )
x

2
=

x 2 L ( x )

dL ( x )
= 2
2 L ( x ) dx

1 2 dL ( x )
= i
2
dx

= const

What is the force (assuming linear

system)?
x
g
R

e
Spring

fm =

Bg2
2 0

Ag ,total =

Bg2
2 0

(2A )
g

The Lorentz force law

A charged particle q in motion at

a velocity v in a magnetic field of
flux density B experiences a
force whose magnitude is
proportional to the product of the
magnitude of the charge q, its
velocity v, and the flux density
B, and the sine of the angle
between the vectors v and B,
and is given by a vector in the
direction of v x B.

F = q (V B )

Side note: What is a Tesla?

One Tesla is the magnetic flux

density that exists when a charge
q of 1 coulomb, moving normal to
the field at a velocity of 1 m/s
experiences a force of 1 Newton.

A Tesla is 10,000 Gauss.

The Earths magnetic field at the

surface is on the order of half a
Gauss

The Lorentz force law

A distribution of charge experiences a

differential force dF on each moving
incremental charge element dq given by

dF = dq (V B )

Moving charges over a line constitute a

line current, and thus we have

dF = (Idl B )

The force on the current element Idl,

subject to the magnetic flux density B, is
perpendicular to the plane of B and Idl.

Electro-magnetic conversion

Machines that convert electrical energy to mechanical energy

(and vice versa) exploit the following two electromagnetic
phenomena:


Faradays Law: When a conductor moves in a magnetic field,

voltage is inducted in the conductor.

Lorentzs force law: When a current-carrying conductor is placed

in a magnetic field, the conductor experiences a mechanical
force.

Both phenomena occur simultaneously due to the force on

charged particles moving through magnetic fields.

Motional voltage (Faradays Law)

Magnetic force (Lorentz force law)

DC motors - the basic terminology

Stator: The stationary

part of a rotary motor
about which (within
which) a rotor turns.
Rotor: the non-stationary
or rotating part of a rotary
motor.
The rotor rotates because
the windings and
magnetic field of the
motor are arranged so
that a torque is developed
about the rotor's axis.

DC motor operation

Current in a DC motor

Magnetic field in a DC motor

Force in a DC motor

Torque in a DC motor

DC Motor construction

Field poles and pole heads

Field Poles
The pole cores can be made from solid steel
castings or from laminations.
 At the air gap, the pole usually fans out into
what is known as a pole head or pole shoe.
This is done to reduce the reluctance of the
air gap.
 Normally the field coils are formed and
placed on the pole cores and then the whole
assembly is mounted to the yoke.


Field coils

Field coils:
The windings located on the poles that set up
the magnetic fields in the machine.
 Usually consist of copper wire and are
insulated from the poles.
 The field coils may be either shunt windings
(in parallel with the armature winding) or
series windings (in series with the armature
winding) or a combination of both.


Interpoles and yoke

Interpoles
Interpoles are similar to the main field poles and
located on the yoke between the main field
poles. They have windings in series with the
armature winding. Interpoles have the function
of reducing the armature reaction effect in the
commutating zone.

Yoke
The yoke is a circular steel ring, which supports
the field poles and interpoles mechanically and
provides the necessary magnetic path between
the poles. The yoke can be solid or laminated. In
many DC machines, the yoke also serves as the
frame.

Armature core and windings

Armature core or stack:

The armature stack is made up of thin
magnetic steel laminations stamped from
sheet steel with a blanking die. Slots are
punched in the laminations with a slot die.
The laminations are insulated from each
other and then welded, riveted, bolted or
bonded together.

Armature winding:
The armature winding is the winding fitted to
the armature slots and eventually connected
to the commutator. It either generates or
receives the voltage depending on whether
the unit is a generator or motor. The
armature winding usually consists of copper
wire, either round or rectangular, and is
insulated from the armature stack.

Commutator and brushes

Commutator:
The commutator is the mechanical rectifier,
which changes the AC voltage of the rotating
conductors to DC voltage. It consists of a
number of segments, normally equal to the
number of slots. The segments or
commutator bars are made of silver bearing
copper and are separated from each other by
mica insulation. The commutator makes the
conductors under one pole carry current in
one direction.

Brushes:
Brushes conduct the current from the
commutator to the external circuit. Brushes
are usually made of carbon because of high
hardness and material strength and low
resistivity to current.

Why laminate?

When a solid metallic mass is rotated

in a magnetic field, the outer portion
of the metal cuts through the flux
lines faster than the inner portion.

The induced electromotive force

(emf), not being uniform, tends to set
up currents between the points of
greatest and least potential.

These are known as eddy currents

and they consume considerable
energy which is lost as heat.

Why laminate?

Laminations reduce the

potential of eddy currents to
circulate around the armature
core.

The number of laminations

usually ranges from 40 to 66
per inch, and brings the eddy
current loss down to about one
percent.

Conductors, turns, coils, and windings

Turn: two conductors connected by an end connector.

Coil: formed by connecting several turns in series.
Winding: formed by connecting several coils in series.

Lap or parallel winding

A lap winding is formed by bringing end

connectors of coils to adjacent commutator
bars.

There must be as many brushes as there are

poles, and they are mechanically aligned.

Intended for low voltage, high current because

of the number of parallel paths.

Wave or series winding

In a wave winding, coils under consecutive pole

pairs are joined in series.

There are only two paths regardless of the

number of poles. Therefore, this type winding
requires only two brushes, although the
winding can use as many brushes as poles.

Best suited for high voltage, low current.

Connection to
adjacent bar.