The DC Separately Excited Shunt Generator
Tapia, Aedrian Earl L.
Malayan Colleges Laguna
ian.tapia1998@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
This report discusses the properties of a DC
Separately Excited Shunt Generator under no-
load and with load conditions. To obtain the
data, certain parameters were varied to observe
the changes. The data gathered is then sketched
into graphs for better analysis. The results imply
that under no-load conditions, the field current is
directly proportional to the armature voltage.
But under load conditions, the field current is
shown to be inversely proportional to the
armature voltage. This findings suggest that the
properties of the DC generator can and will
change under different conditions.
KEYWORDS
Armature Voltage/Current
Field Voltage/Current
Prime Mover
Stator
Rotor
Magnetic Flux
Induced Voltage/Current
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Objectives
The objectives of this experiment is to study
the properties of a separately excited DC
shunt generator under no-load and full-load
conditions and also, to obtain the saturation
curve of the generator. Lastly, it is also
important to obtain the necessary data like
the armature current and voltage to sketch
the graphical curves for better interpretation
of the data.
1.2 Concepts
The concepts involved in this experiment are
mostly Lenz's and Faraday's law. Lenz's law
states that a changing magnetic flux in a
conducting coil creates an induced current
which results in an opposing magnetic field.
In this case, the direction of the magnetic
field of the armature is opposite relative to
the permanent magnets. On the other hand,
Faraday's law states that a changing
magnetic flux results in an induced current
in a conducting coil. By merely observing a
running generator, an induced current is
created by the interaction of the rotating
armature and the stator.
1.3 Procedures
The experiment involves two (2) conditions
namely : no-load and full-load conditions.
Under no-load conditions, a synchronous
motor acts a prime mover to mechanically
drive the DC generator. Before starting the
experiment, the motor is connected to the
generator by the following the given
schematics. After completing the set-up, the
power supply is turned on. The field current
is then varied to obtain the change in
voltage. The data obtained was listed
according to their respective field current.
Different lead connections were also
interchanged to see if there were changes.
On the other hand, the full-load condition
was also tested. The initial set-up was then
connected to a resistive load where the load
was changed according to the given
parameters. The values of the voltage and
current was listed and was used to calculate Also, certain lead connections were
the power. Lastly, a dead short was placed interchanged to see if there were changes :
across the armature where it was tested by
gradually increasing the field current until Procedure (5) : Interchanged lead
the motor stalls. This condition was connections of the shunt field
observed and analyzed. Result : Reversed polarity of the armature
voltage
2 RESULTS Procedure (6) : Interchanged lead
connections of the 200 Vdc meter
2.1 No-Load Characteristics Recorded Armature Voltage : 130 Vdc
Results : The recorded voltage is the same as
In this condition, the shunt field current was the armature voltage of the 300 mA dc.
varied by rotating the voltage control knob
on the power supply. The values obtained Procedure (7) : Interchanged lead
was listed according to their respective connections of the stator to the synchronous
parameters. motor.
Results : Reversed polarity of the armature
Table 1. Armature voltage under varying field
current
voltage
IF EA
(milliamperes) (volts) Procedure (8) : Interchanged lead
0 10 connections of the 200 Vdc meter
50 30 Recorded Armature Voltage : 130 Vdc
100 50 Results : The recorded voltage is the same as
150 75
200 95
the armature voltage of the 300 mA dc
250 115
300 130 2.2 Load Characteristics
350 140
400 150 In this condition, the previous set-up is then
connected to resistive loads. Initially, the
resistance switches was placed at 120 and
Figure 1. Armature voltage vs. Field current (no the shunt field current was adjusted until the
load)
generator was delivering an output voltage
of 120 Vdc. The recorded shunt field current
is 360 mA which serves as the nominal
current at the rated power output of the DC
generator. Subsequently, the load resistance
was adjusted to obtain each of the values
listed while maintaining the nominal current.

Table 2. Armature Current, Voltage and Power

under varying resistance
RL IA EA Power
(ohms) (amps) (volts) (watts)
0 140 0
600 0.2 135 27
300 0.4 135 54
200 0.6 135 81
150 0.8 135 108
 120 1 120 120 proportional to the armature voltage. Table 2
100 1.2 120 144 and Figure 2 also supports this claim. It is
80 1.35 110 148.5 shown that as the field current increases, the
75 1.4 110 154
armature voltage decreases.

Figure 2. Armature Voltage vs Field Current (w/ REFERENCES

Load)
Introduction to Active Learning : Faraday's Law
[PDF]. (n.d.). Boulder: University of Colorado

Lenz's Law [PDF]. (n.d.). New York: University at

Buffalo

After, the load resistance was adjusted for an

output current of 1.5 A. The field current
was turned on and off by removing the
connecting lead to the DC generator. This
change caused the motor to work harder
when the generator is delivering power to
the load.

Lastly, a dead short was placed across the

armature. The field current was then
gradually increased until the motor stalls.
When the motor reached its point, the shunt
field current is shown to be 490 mA.

3 CONCLUSIONS

The results of this report show that under

no-load conditions, field current and
armature voltage are directly proportional on
the basis of merely analyzing Table 1 and
Figure 1. It shows that as the field current
gradually increases, the armature voltage
increases as well. But if resistance is
involved, field current is inversely