Experiment NO.

The DC Series Motor

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the relationships between the speed, power output, and efficiency of a DC Series
Motor and the torque produced by the motor.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Since the series field winding of a series motor are in series with the armature, the
exciting current will also be the armature current, the voltage relation will be

VL = EG + IA (RA + R)

with EG being equal to kϕn but ϕ or flux per pole will now be due to IANS where NS is the number
of turns per series field coil. If we substitute kϕn for EG and solve for n, we have

n = [VL – IA(RA + RS)]/(kϕ)

We can see that the speed is inversely proportional to flux per pole ϕ. Furthermore, since flux per
pole is directly proportional to IA, at no load, IA will be small and ϕ will also be small making the
speed very high in value. This is the reason why series motors are never operated at no-load.
There should always be a load permanently connected to the motor to prevent the armature from
rotating at very high speeds. Since the speed will be high for a small value of IA and the speed
will be low for a big value of IA, we expect the curve for speed versus current to be a parabola
asymptotic to the vertical axis.

The torque of a series DC motor is still proportional to flux per pole and armature current
as shown in the equation

T = kϕIA

But as previously mentioned, the flux per pole is proportional also to the armature current since
the armature is in series with the series field winding. Hence

T = k(k1IANS)IA = Tk2(IA)2

Showing that the torque for a series motor operating before the saturation points of its
magnetization curve will be directly proportional to the square of the current IA. This will explain
why the series motor has a superior torque-load characteristic compared to all motors, whether
AC or DC motors.
Input power to the series motor is given by

P I = V L IL

Where VL is the line or terminal voltage applied to the motor and IL is the line current. Output or
motor power is given by

PM = EGIA

= [VL – IA(RA+RS)]IA

= VLIA-(IA)2(RA+RS)

EQUIPMENT INITIAL SETTINGS

FH2 MkIV Test Bed Speed Range to 7200 rev/min

DC Supply to 110V.
Armature Rheostat to infinity (∞)
START/STOP/RUN Switch to RUN
External/Internal Torque Switch to
INT, and Torque Reverse Switch to
give positive meter deflection.
Torque Meter Control to Low, but
not to zero(see later note).

FH50 Compound Machine Test Machine – DC Motor

FH3 MkIV Instrumentation Frame
V2 DC Voltmeter 150V Range
A2 DC Ammeter 1.5A Range

PROCEDURES:

1. Position the FH50 Mimic Diagram over the Machine Access Sockets of the FH2
MkIV Test Bed.
2. Locate the FH50 test machine into the right-hand test cradle and insert the 16-way
plug into the adjacent socket in the FH2 MkIV Test Bed.
3. Set-up the equipment and connect the diagrams as shown in Figure 1(a) or 1(b) and
then switch on the power to the FH2 MkIV, first at the Main Switch and the press the
Green ON push-button to activate the contactor.
4. Start the motor by rotating the FH2 MkIV Armature Rheostat to zero and increase the
breaker control setting until the motor develops an indicated torque of 0.4 Nm. Allow
the motor to warm up for approximately 10 minutes.
 5. Increase the brake control until the motor nearly stalls and then return it to minimum
setting.
6. Adjust the motor supply voltage to 110V and maintain this constant.
7. In steps, as indicated in the Results table, increase the torque on the motor and record
corresponding values of torque, speed, current, and voltage. The 0.5 Nm Torque
Meter range will be appropriate for most readings.

DO NOT allow the motor to run without a load, minimum 0.5 Nm, otherwise the
motor may seriously overspeed and could disintegrate.

CALCULATIONS:

Calculate values of output power, input power, and efficiency using the relationships:

2 π × Speed ( rev /min ) ×Torque ( Nm)

Output Power =
60

Input Power = Input Voltage × Input Current

Output Power
Efficiency (p.u.) =
Input Power

GRAPHS:

Plot graphs of speed, efficiency, and current against torque.

RESULTS:

Torque Speed Voltage Current Input Power Output Power Efficiency

(Nm) (Rpm) VL IL W W (p.u.)
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
0.30
0.35
0.40
0.45
0.50
0.55
0.60
0.65
0.70
0.75
SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM:

IL = I S = I A
 IA

VT = 110V D.C. VL

WIRING DIAGRAM

V2 A2

FH2

QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS:

1. What are the principal characteristics of a dc series motor?

2. How can the direction of rotation of a series motor be reversed?

3. Why will a series motor over speed when it is started at no load? Explain fully.

4. What is the main reason why a series motor has the highest starting torque of any dc

motor?

5. What are the uses or applications of the series dc motor based on its principal

characteristics?