JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY

COURSE: BSc. ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING

SCHOOL: SCHOOL OF ELECTRICAL, ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION
ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT: ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING
UNIT: ELECTRICAL MACHINES 1
UNIT CODE: EEE2214
TITLE: DC GENERATOR LAB REPORT
LECTURER: MR BAARIU

Group Members Reg. No Signature

Caleb Cheruiyot ENE211-0163/2022
Collins Cheruiyot ENE211-0049/2022
Cephas Mutua ENE211-0015/2022
Albright Wanyonyi ENE211-0047/2022
1.0 AIMS
The following were the objectives of conducting the above experiment:
 To study the no load saturation characteristics of a separately excited generator.
 To study the full load saturation characteristics of a separately excited generator.
 To investigate the no load characteristics of shunt generator.
 To carry out load test on a shunt generator.

2.0 INTRODUCTION
A generator is a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy whose working is
based on the principle of electromagnetic induction.
A DC generator is a type if electrical generator that produces direct current.
Its basic principle like other generators is based on electromagnetic induction. When a conductor
is moved through a magnetic field, or when a magnetic field is moved around a stationary
conductor, an electromotive force (EMF) is induced in the conductor according to Faradays’ law
of electromagnetic induction. In a DC generator, this induced EMF creates a direct current in the
external circuit connected to the generator.
A DC consists of a rotor which includes coils of wires known as an armature and is the rotating
part where EMF is induced, and a stator, which contains a magnetic field produced by either
permanent or electromagnets.
DC generators can be classified based on their construction and method of excitation:

1. Separately Excited DC generator:

In this type of generator, the field winding is powered by a separate DC source, independent of
the generator output i.e. not electrically connected.

2. Self-Excited DC Generator:

-Series-Wound DC Generator: In a series-wound generator, the field winding is connected in

series with the armature winding. These generators are capable of providing very high currents at
low voltages and are often used in applications requiring high starting torque, such as in some
types of industrial machinery and electric traction systems.

-Shunt-Wound DC Generator: In a shunt-wound generator, the field winding is connected in

parallel (shunt) with the armature winding. Shunt-wound generators produce higher voltages at
lower currents compared to series-wound generators and find applications in general power
generation and industrial processes.

-Compound-Wound DC Generator: Compound-wound generators combine features of series and

shunt-wound generators. They have both a series field winding and a shunt field winding.
Compound-wound generators can be further categorized into cumulative compound (where the
series and shunt fields aid each other) and differential compound (where they oppose each other).

These types of DC generators vary in their characteristics, performance and applications.

3.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
3.1 No load saturation characteristics of separately excited generators
No load saturation characteristics is also known as magnetic characteristic or open circuit
characteristics. This characteristic shows the relation between generated emf at no load (E 0) and
the field current (If) at a given fixed speed as shown in figure 1. The O.C.C. curve is just the
magnetization curve and it is practically similar for all type of generators.

Figure 1 open circuit characteristics

1. Initially, in the absence of any electrical current, there exists a minor electromagnetic force
(OA) arising from residual magnetism.
2. The graph demonstrates a linear progression from point A to B, indicating that the impact of
the iron core's resistance is minimal compared to that of the air gap.
3. As we surpass point B, the resistance of the iron becomes significant, causing a departure from
the linear trend.
4. Beyond point C, saturation of the pole cores begins, leading to a flattening of the generated
electromagnetic force under no-load conditions.
Different curves are plotted for different speeds as shown in figure 2.

Figure 2 magnetic characteristics at different speeds

The open circuit characteristics of a separately excited DC generator are determined through an
experiment conducted under no-load conditions. This involves connecting an ammeter to the
field winding and a voltmeter to the generator to measure the induced voltage

Figure 3 Circuit diagram for separately-excited generator at no-load operation

3.2 Full load characteristics of separately excited D.C generator
A full load characteristic curve is also known as external characteristics curve. An external
characteristic curve shows the relation between terminal voltage (V) and the load current (I L) as
shown in figure 3. Terminal voltage V is less than the generated emf E due to voltage drop in the
armature circuit.
v T =f ( I L )

v T =E−I a R a

VT = E- ILRa (2)
The curve drawn as a result of voltage drop in the armature circuit is known as Internal
characteristic curve. External characteristic curve lies below the internal characteristic curve and
it includes voltage drop due to load.

Figure 4 Circuit diagram for full-load operation

 Figure 5 internal characteristics
3.3 No load characteristics of a shunt generator
The open circuit characteristics (OCC) of a DC shunt generator are determined through a no-load
experiment. In a shunt DC generator, the field winding is connected in parallel with the armature
conductors. To regulate the field current, a variable resistance (rheostat) is inserted in series with
the field winding, and an ammeter is employed to measure the field current. Meanwhile, a
voltmeter is connected across the armature conductors to measure the induced voltage. The
electromotive force (emf) E is regarded as the voltage across the terminals when the generator
operates without a load, and since there's no load, the field current (If) is equivalent to the
armature current (Ia). Therefore,
Vt = If Rf. (3)

Figure 6 Circuit diagram of a shunt generator at no-load operation

In a shunt DC generator, residual magnetism in the poles causes some emf induction even before
the field current (If) is applied, owing to residual magnetism. The initial segment OB of the curve
exhibits linearity. By drawing a tangent OB to this linear part of the graph from the origin and
calculating its slope (ΔE / ΔIf), the critical resistance can be determined. The critical resistance
signifies the value of shunt field resistance beyond which voltage begins to rise in the armature
conductors. The speed at which this voltage buildup occurs is termed the critical speed, defined
as the speed at which the shunt field resistance equals the critical resistance. As the curve starts
to bend, it indicates the onset of iron saturation. Maintaining a constant resistance in the field
circuit to achieve the rated voltage ensures that any decrease in speed will lower the induced emf
and consequently the pole flux. This establishes a critical speed below which the machine fails to
excite.

Figure 7: DC Shunt Generator Open Circuit Characteristics

3.4 Load characteristics on D.C shunt generators
3.4.1 Internal characteristics
The internal characteristic curve depicts the relationship between the generated voltage (E g) and
the load current (IL). When the generator is under load, the generated voltage decreases due to
armature reaction, resulting in a lower voltage compared to the no-load emf. The AC curve
represents the no-load voltage curve, while AB illustrates the internal characteristic curve.
3.4.2 External characteristics
The external characteristic curve (AD) illustrates the variation of terminal voltage with the load
current. The terminal voltage is diminished by the ohmic drop caused by armature resistance,
resulting in a terminal voltage lower than the generated voltage, positioning the curve below the
internal characteristic curve.
V = (Eg - Ia Ra) = Eg - (IL + Ish) Ra (4)
 Figure 8: DC Shunt Generator internal characteristics circuit
The terminal voltage can be regulated to remain constant by adjusting the load terminal. As the
load resistance of a shunt-wound DC generator is reduced, the load current increases until a
certain limit (up to point D). Beyond this point, a reversal in the characteristic occurs: further
reduction in load resistance leads to a decrease in current, causing the external characteristic
curve to reverse, ultimately resulting in zero terminal voltage, albeit some residual magnetism-
induced voltage remains.
As the load current increases, the terminal voltage decreases. Beyond a certain threshold, heavy
load current and increased ohmic drop lead to a drastic reduction in terminal voltage, causing a
drop in load current despite the high load or low load resistance. Proper maintenance of the
machine's load resistance is crucial to prevent such occurrences. The point at which the machine
delivers maximum current output is termed the breakdown point (point D in the figure).

Figure 9 internal and external characteristic curve

4.0 METHODOLOGY
4.1 PROCEDURE
4.1.1 SEPARATELY EXCITED
1. The circuit was connected as shown in the figure 6 below
2. The motor was turned on and the generator derived at the rated speed
3. Switch s3 was closed to position 1 so that the generator was separately excited
4. The speed was maintained at 1500rpm and the field current varied in steps of 0.2A from
minimum to maximum and then reduced in the same steps to minimum and all the
instrument readings were recorded in each step
5. The motor was switched off and a 5ohm rheostat was inserted between stater terminal A
and the ammeter. The rheostat was set to a minimum resistance and the motor turned on
and speed set to 1300rpm. Step 4 was repeated using the rheostat
6. Switch 4 was closed to connect the generator to the load. The load was adjusted to full
load at the rated speed
7. All the instrument readings were recorded
8. The field current was varied in suitable intervals and at each interval all the instrument
readings were recorded
4.1.2 SHUNT GENERATOR
1. Switch s3 was closed to position 2 so that the generator was shunt connected
2. The speed was kept constant at 1500rpm and the field current varied in steps of 0.2A
from minimum to maximum and in each step the generator terminal voltage was recorded
3. The resistance of the field regulator was measured
4. The generator was run to the rated speed and excited to generate 100V. S4 was closed to
connect the generator to the load. The current was varied in steps of 2 on the dial from
zero to125% of the rated value while maintaining a constant speed of 1500rpm and in
each step the instrument readings were recorded

Figure10 circuit diagram

4.2 RESULTS
4.2.1 SEPARATELY EXCITED
N=1350rpm N=1500rpm
Terminal Voltage Field Current Terminal Voltage
60 0.30 70
70 0.50 80
90 0.70 100
100 0.90 110
105 1.10 115
110 1.2 120

N=1350rpm N1500rpm
Terminal Voltage Field Current Terminal Voltage
110 1.2 120
108 1.1 115
100 0.9 110
90 0.7 100
75 0.5 85
60 0.3 70

4.2.2 LOADING
LOAD VOLTAGE CURRENT CURRENT
(V) (F) (L)
0 100 0.7 0
3 90 0.7 3
6 85 0.6 6.5
9 80 0.6 8.5
12 80 0.6 9.5
15 70 0.5 12.0
18 65 0.5 14.0
20 65 0.5 15.5

4.2.3 SHUNT GENERATOR

 If Terminal Voltage
0.1 30
0.3 50
0.5 70
0.7 90
0.9 105
1.1 110
1.3 120
1.5 120

5.0 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

5.1 Plot the no load and load curves for separately excited generator. Comment on the curve.
1. No-load Curve (Open Circuit Characteristic):
- At no load, the generator produces its maximum voltage since there's no current flowing
through the armature.
- Initially, the curve might exhibit a small initial voltage due to residual magnetism in the
generator's field winding.
- As the field current increases, the generated voltage also increases, but there might be
saturation effects at higher field currents.

2. Load Curve (Internal and External Characteristics):

- As the load on the generator increases, the terminal voltage starts decreasing.
- This drop in terminal voltage occurs due to factors such as armature reaction and the voltage
drop across the armature resistance.
- The curve might exhibit a fairly linear decrease in voltage with increasing load until a certain
point.
- Beyond this point, the terminal voltage might drop more steeply, indicating the limitations of
the generator to maintain voltage under heavy loads.

- The no-load curve indicates the generator's capability to produce voltage at varying field
currents, showcasing its maximum potential output.
- The load curve reflects how the generator responds to increasing load demands, highlighting
the drop in voltage as the load increases.

.
5.2 Explain the significance of residual flux from the no load characteristics.
Residual magnetism is defined as the amount of magnetization left behind after removing the
external magnetic field from the circuit. It occurs when some of the magnetic dipoles retain a
degree of orientation relative to the magnetic field that was applied to the core. Remnant
magnetism is a condition necessary for voltage build up during start-up of the generator.
Remnant magnetism is always present in the poles even before loading the shunt generator. This
leads to the production of a small emf. This emf circulates a small current in the field circuit
which increases the pole flux.

5.3 Plot the no load and load curves for shunt generator. Comment on the shapes of the
curves
The no load curve, also known as the Open Circuit Characteristic, illustrates the relationship
between the generated electromotive force (emf) at no load and the field current. It typically
follows a straight line initially due to residual magnetism, but as the field gets saturated, the emf
stabilizes.
On the other hand, the load curve, or internal and external characteristics, shows how the
generator performs under different loads. As the load on the generator increases, the terminal
voltage decreases due to factors such as armature reaction and ohmic drop in the armature
resistance, the load current increases, but only up to a certain limit before a reversal in the
characteristics occurs. Beyond this point, any further decrease in load resistance leads to a
reduction in terminal voltage.

5.4 Explain the sudden drop in the terminal voltage as observed in load characteristics for
shunt generator.
The sudden drop in terminal voltage observed in the load characteristics of a shunt DC generator
is primarily due to factors like armature reaction and ohmic drop in the armature resistance. As
the load of the generator increases, the armature reaction distorts the magnetic field, reducing the
terminal voltage. Additionally, the ohmic drop, which is the product of the armature resistance,
further contributes to the decrease in terminal voltage.
This sudden reduction in terminal voltage occurs when the load current reaches a certain point
where the generator can no longer compensate for the increased load, leading to a significant
drop in terminal voltage despite the load resistance being high or the load resistance being low.

5.5 Comparison of load characteristics of separately excited and shunt generators

The characteristics of separately excited DC shunt generators involve the Open Circuit
Characteristics, Internal and External characteristics. The Open Circuit Characteristics curve
represents the relationship between generated emf at no load and the field current, typically
following a straight line due to residual magnetism. The Internal Characteristics curve shows the
on load generated emf, which is always less than the no load voltage due to armature reaction.
The External Characteristic curve displays the relationship between terminal voltage and load
current, indicating how the generator performs under different loads.
6.0 REFERENCES
 Lecture Notes on Generators
 Tutorial’s Point. Open Circuit Characteristics of DC Generators.
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/open-circuit-characteristics-of-a-dc-generator
 Ge, W., Zhang, C., Xie, Y., Yu, M., & Wang, Y. (2021). Analysis of the
electromechanical characteristics of power transformer under different residual
fluxes. Energies, 14(24), 8244.
 Kiran Daware. Characteristics Of DC Generators.
https://www.electricaleasy.com/2014/07/characteristics-of-dc-generators.html