Energy Conversion Laboratory

Shunt Excited DC
Generator
Laboratory Activity No.4

Borja, Carmelyn A.
Callueng, Chris Anthony O.
Cataneda, Giovanni A.
Lao, Daniel Jan S.

TEST 2: Magnetization Characteristic Curve

A.Objectives
Determine the no load voltage values of the dc generator , running at
constant rated speed, as a function of the excitation current

B.Theory
A generator having a field winding connected in parallel with the external
circuit is called a shunt generator. The field coils of a shunt generator contain many
turns of small wire; the magnetic strength is derived from the large number of turns
rather than the current strength through the coils. If a constant voltage is desired,
the shunt wound generator is not suitable for rapidly fluctuating loads. Any increase
in load causes a decrease in the terminal or output voltage, and any decrease in
load causes an increase in terminal voltage; since the armature and the load are
connected in series, all current flowing in the external circuit passes through the
armature winding. Because of the resistance in the armature winding, there is a
voltage drop (IR drop = current x resistance). As the load increases, the armature
current increases and the IR drop in the armature increases. The voltage delivered
to the terminals is the difference between the induced voltage and the voltage drop;
therefore, there is a decrease in terminal voltage. This decrease in voltage causes a
decrease in field strength, because the current in the field coils decreases in
proportion to the decrease in terminal voltage; with a weaker field, the voltage is
further decreased.When the load decreases, the output voltage increases
accordingly, and a larger current flows in the windings. This action is cumulative, so
the output voltage continues to rise to a point called field saturation, after which
there is no further increase in output voltage.
The terminal voltage of a shunt generator can be controlled by means of a rheostat
inserted in series with the field windings. As the resistance is increased, the field
current is reduced; consequently, the generated voltage is reduced also. For a given
setting of the field rheostat, the terminal voltage at the armature brushes will be
approximately equal to the generated voltage minus the IR drop produced by the
load current in the armature; thus, the voltage at the terminals of the generator will
drop as the load is applied. Certain voltage sensitive devices are available which
automatically adjust the field rheostat to compensate for variations in load. When
these devices are used, the terminal voltage remains essentially constant.

C. Method of Experiment
A. Outline of Procedures

1. Preset the module:

 VARIABLE DC OUTPUT: Circuit breaker open
Output with about 50V

VARIABLE DC OUTPUT: Circuit breaker open

(Excitation) open the knob fully counter
clockwise direction

EXCITATION RESISTANCE: Min. resistance

STARTING RESISTANCE: Max. resistance

2. Switch on the power supply module and start the motor by closing
the circuit breaker.
3. Gradually Switch off the starting rheostat Ra.
4. Adjust the excitation rheostat Re of the motor so that the rotating
speed of the set reaches the rated value of the generator.
5. Note that, when the excitation current is zero, the DC generator
shows a small voltage across the terminals due to the residual pole
magnetism. Its direction depends on the residual magnetic
properties.

When before the test was started, the DC generator was running
with the right direction of the excitation current and the set is now
running in the right direction, the voltmeter will read a positive
residual voltage with reference to terminal B2. In the opposite case,
it is necessary to reset the proper magnetic polarity by making an
excitation current flow, for few seconds and in the right direction,
approximately equal to the rated current. Measure the value of the
residual voltage.

6. Close the circuit breaker of the DC output (excitation).

Through the knob, slightly excite the machine and gradually
increase the excitation current, never going back , to approximately
20-30% above the rated value.
For each preset value of the excitation current measure the
corresponding readings of the no-load voltage Vo and the rounds
per minute n.

7. When the saturation is reached, the measurements are repeated by

gradually decreasing the excitation current, never going back. For
each preset value of the excitation current, measure the
corresponding readings of the no-load voltage Vo and the rounds
per minute n.

8. Stop the set

D. Equipment List
 Voltmeter Starting Rheostat
Ammeter Excitation Rheostat
Mechanical Power Digital Universal Base
Measuring Unit DC Shunt Excitation Generator
DC Shunt Excitation Motor

Power Supply Module

E. Data Section
Ascending Characteristics

I exc (A ) V '0 (V ) n(rpm)

V0

0 45.3 3620 1.7

0.317 44.9 3560 71.1
0.420 44.1 3510 77.9

Descending Characteristics

I exc (A ) V '0 (V ) n(rpm)

V0

0.413 43.9 3470 80.2

0.301 44.8 3550 70.3
0 45.5 3620 1.7













TEST 3: No Load Losses

B.Objectives
To determine the mechanical and iron losses in a shunt excited DC
generator
C. Method of Experiment
A. Outline of Procedures

1. Set the controls of the modules:

VARIABLE DC OUTPUT SECTION: Circuit breaker open and
output voltage 50V

EXCITATION RHEOSTAT: Minimum Resistance

STARTING RHEOSTAT: Maximum Resistance

2. Shunt the ammeter A1 wiring the dotted connection to prevent the
instrument from being damaged at the starting.
3. Switch on the power supply module and start the motor by closing
the circuit breaker.
4. Gradually switch off the starting rheostat Ra, then remove the
short-circuit jumper from the ammeter A1.
5. Adjust with the knob the value of the supply voltage to the rated
value of the motor.
6. Adjust the excitation rheostat Re so that the rotating speed of the
set is exactly equal to the rated value of the DC generator and
measure the instrument readings.
7. Stop the motor by opening the circuit breaker.

SEQUENCE OF OPERATIONS

When the motor has been coupled to the dc generator, perform the
following operations:

1. The dc generator must be unexcited, therefore the circuit breaker of
the excitation section must be open.
2. Repeat the operations of point 1 to 5 in test 3.1.
3. Adjust the excitation rheostat Re so that the rotating speed is
exactly equal to the rated value of the dc generator and measure
the instrument readings

P' M =V ' M I ' M =(W )

Iron Losses in the DC Generator

Bring the set to the rated speed of the dc generator, which has to be
excited so that its rated output voltage is available in no load condition.
The input power of the motor is
P' ' M =V ' ' M I ' ' M


And represents the sum of the mechanical losses of the motor plus dc
generator plus the iron losses of the generator.
Assuming that the motor losses are still those of the no-load operation,
the iron losses in the dc generator can be evaluated as

Pir =P ' ' M P ' M

SEQUENCE OF OPERATIONS
After the dc generator is driven at its rated speed as shown in the test
for measuring the mechanical losses, perform the following operations:
1. Close the circuit breaker and adjust the knob so that the generator
outputs its rated voltage, in no-load condition and at exactly its
rated speed.
2. Measure the instrument readings
P' ' M =V ' ' M I ' ' M =(W )

B. Sample Computation

PM =V M I M

P' M =V ' M I ' M

P' ' M =V ' ' M I ' ' M

D. Equipment List

Ammeter Voltmeter
 Power Supply Module
DC Compound Excitation Motor
DC Shunt Excitation Motor or

DC Shunt Excitation Generator
Universal Base
Excitation Rheostat
Starting Rheostat
Mechanical Power Digital Measuring Unit

E. Data Section

VM (V)
IM (A)
PM (W)

38.34 0.712 27.298

A. Mechanical Losses in the DC generator

V 'M (V)
I ' M (A)
P' M (W)
Pm (W)
45.91 1.71 78.506 51.208

B. Iron losses in the DC generator

V ' 'M
I ' 'M
P' ' M
Pir (

(V) (A) (W) W)

46.3V 1.411A 65.329 13.177
G. Sample Computation

PM =VI=38.340.712=27.298

P' M =VI =45.911.71=78.506

''
P M =VI =46.31.411=65.329

 Pm=P' M PM =78.50627.298=51.208

Piron=P' M P' ' M =78.50665.329=13.177

TEST 4: External Characteristic Curve
B.Objectives
To determine the values of the voltage across the terminals of the DC
generator when the load current is varied while the excitation conditions
are unchanged and the rotating speed is constant
C. Method of Experiment
A. Outline of Procedures

1. Preset the module:

 VARIABLE DC OUTPUT: Switch open
Output with about 50V

VARIABLE DC OUTPUT: Switch open

(Excitation) Variac fully turned in
counter clockwise
direction

EXCITATION RESISTANCE: Min. resistance

STARTING RESISTANCE: Max. resistance
LOAD RESISTANCE: Indifferent position

2. Shunt the A-coils of the instruments (make the connections signed
with dashed lines) to protect them against the spike due to the
starting current.

3. Set the main switch on ON and, acting on variac, adjust the power
supply to the exact value shown on the motor plate.
4. Gradually switch Ra off.
5. Acting on Re adjust the motor excitation so to have the rated speed
of dc generator.

6. Adjust the dc generator excitation current to exactly the rate value.

7. Turn load selector in its different positions and for each of them,
after a possible correction of motor excitation to keep speed
constantly at rated value, observe the instrument readings.

8. Switch off the main switch to stop the motor.

D. Equipment List
Power Supply Module
DC Compound Excitation Motor
DC Compound Excitation Motor or
DC Compound Excitation Generator
Motor-Driven Resistive Load
Universal Base

 Excitation Rheostat
Starting Rheostat
Mechanical Power Digital Measuring Unit
Ammeter
Voltmeter
E. Data Section
 Vol n
Am Am
tm (r
me me
RC ete p
ter ter
r m
A1 A2
V2 )
0.8 89. 34
0 0
50 7 75
1
0.7 0.5 71. 29
1
21 79 9 10
1
2
0.6 1.0 63. 26
2
01 27 6 15
2
3
0.4 1.6 49. 24
3
90 75 3 20
3
4
0.4 1.8 45. 23
4
51 90 8 45
4

Analysis

Borja, Carmelyn A.
This experiment focused on the different characteristics of shunt
generator. We all know that this is a type of generator has a field winding in which it
is parallel to the external circuit.
The first test is all about magnetization characteristics in which we can
see that the magnetic is strength is the result of large number of turns or rpm and
not because if the excitation current, because as we can see in our data, as the
current decreases while the rpm increases, the value of our voltage also increases.
The next one is all about the power losses in which we can see that
even if there is no load connected in the generator there are still factors affecting
our output power, these are the mechanical and iron loss that will lessen the
efficiency of our machine, because the total power accumulated by the circuit will
affect our output power.
The last test is all about the external characteristic of this generator, in
which we can conclude that terminal voltage can be manipulated by the rheostat.
As we can see in our table (test 4) as the of value resistance increases, the current
decreases resulting a decrease in the value of our terminal voltage.
Callueng, Chris Anthony
In this experiment, we need to determine the no load voltage values of
the DC generator, get the mechanical and iron losses and determine the
values of the voltage across the terminals of the DC generator when the
load current is varied while the excitation conditions are unchanged and
the rotating speed is constant. We made different tests. In the first test, I
have observed that when the excitation current is zero, the no-load
voltage is low. When the current increased, the voltage increased high like
approximately 70 volts. The current again increased and the increase in
voltage somehow a little lower than I expected. The next test is about
losses. The mechanical power loss, Pm, is higher that the iron loss, Piron
of the DC generator. The formula used is the general formula for
computing power. The last experiment, involving different and varying
loads, I have observed that as we increase the load, the speed of the
generator decreases because the voltage reading in V2 is also decreasing.
 Castaneda, Giovanni A.
In this activity, we were able to know how the shunt excited DC
generator works. As the generator speeds up, we observed that the residual flux in
the iron poles produced a small generated voltage which causes the field current to
increase the flux. The voltage will increase and the voltage produced will be limited
as the iron reaches its saturation point. An adjustment on the value of a resistor
which is in series with the field coil will give a stable generated voltage to the
generator. One advantage of a shunt excited DC generator is that it does not
requires independent electrical supply.

Lao, Daniel Jan S.

This module discusses the main characteristic of shunt excited DC
generator. It has the advantage of requiring no independent electrical
supply. Residual magnetic flux in the iron poles produces a small
generated voltage as the machine is brought up to speed. These cause a
field current that increases the flux and in turn the generated voltage. The
voltage builds up until saturation in the iron limits the voltage produced.
The stable value of generated voltage can be adjusted over a limited
range by adjusting the value of a resistor placed in series with the field
coil. Under certain conditions, to be discussed here, this generator will
build up a desired terminal voltage. The field winding has high resistance
and more number of turns so that only a part of armature current passes
through field winding and the rest passes through load.