DIRECT

CURREN
T
MOTORS

The Electric Motor

It is a machine that
converts electrical
energy (or power) into
mechanical energy (or
power).

DC electric motor works on

the principle that
whenever a current
carrying conductor is
placed in a magnetic field,
a force acts on a conductor
causing it to move.

Speed Characteristics of a DC
Motor
60 aEb
N
PZ
where:
N = speed (rpm)
a = number of armature current paths
P = number of poles
Z = number of conductors
= flux per pole (weber)
Eb = back emf or counter emf (volt)

After the machine has been

assembled, PZ and a are constant

Eb
N k

N1 Eb1 2

N 2 Eb2 1

where:
k = proportionality constant
Subscript 1 = for condition 1
Subscript 2 = for condition 2

Torque developed in the

Armature
PZI a
T
6.283a
where:
T = torque developed (newton-meter)
Ia = armature current (ampere)
N = speed of armature rotation (rpm)
a = number of armature current paths
P = number of poles
Z = number of conductors
= flux per pole (weber)

After the machine has been

assembled, PZ and a are constant

T kI a

T1 I a1 1

T2 I a2 2

Example:
A simplex lap wound armature has 600
conductors and carries a current of 50
amperes per armature current path. If
the flux per pole is 30 mWb, determine
the electromagnetic torque developed by
the armature.

PZI a
PZI a
ZI a
T

6.283a 6.283 mP 6.283m

600 30 x10 3 50
T
143.24 N m
6.2831

Power Developed in the

Armature

Pd Eb I a
where:
Pd = power developed in the armature (watt)
Ia = armature current (ampere)
Eb = back emf or counter emf (volt)

Mechanical Power Output in the Shaft

2NT
Hp
N rpm; T lb ft
33,000
2NT
Hp
N rpm; T N m
44,760
where:
Hp = mechanical power output in the shaft
(horsepower)
N = speed of shaft rotation (rpm)
T = torque developed

Types of
DC Motor

SHUNT MOTOR
The armature and the field coils are connected
in parallel.

Note:
In a shunt motor, unless otherwise specified, the
flux is assumed to be constant.

Eb Vs I a Ra

I m I a I sh

Vs
I sh
Rsh

where:
Vs = supply voltage (volt)
Eb = back emf (volt)
Ra = armature equivalent resistance (ohm)
Rsh = shunt field winding resistance (ohm)
Im = current drawn from supply (ampere)
Ia = armature current (ampere)
Ish = shunt field current (ampere)

Example 1:
A shunt motor is taking 72 A at 120
V while developing an output of 10
bhp. Armature resistance is 0.05
ohm and shunt field resistance of
60 ohms. Determine
a. counter emf
b. total copper losses
c. iron and friction losses

A.
Vs 120
I sh

2A
Rsh 60
I a I m I sh 72 2 70 A

Eb Vs I a Ra 120 70 0.05 116 .5volts

B.
2

Pcopperloss I a Ra I sh Rsh
Pcopperloss 70 0.05 2 60 485watts
2

C.
Pinput Vs I m 120 72 8640 watts
Poutput 10 746 7460 watts

Plosses Pinput Poutput 8640 7460 1180 watts

Plosses Pcopper Piron & friction
1180 485 Piron & friction
Piron & friction 695watts

Series Motor
The armature and the field coils are connected in
series.

Ia Im

Eb Vs I a Ra Rse

where:
Rse = series field winding resistance (ohm)

Example:
A 200V series motor has a field resistance of
0.2 ohm and an armature resistance of 0.1
ohm. The motor takes 30A of current at 900
rpm while developing full load torque. What is
the motor speed when this motor develops
70% of full load torque?

Note:
In a series motor, since the flux is proportional to the armature
current, therefore, the torque is directly proportional to the
square of the armature current.

T1 I a1

T2 I a2

I a2 I a1

T2
T1

0.7T1
I a2 30
25.1A
T1

Eb1 Vs I a1 Ra Rse 200 30 0.1 0.2

Eb1 191V

Eb2 Vs I a2 Ra Rse 200 25.1 0.1 0.2

Eb2 192.47V

E kN k ' I a
Thus, E = kNIa

Eb1
Eb2

N2

N1 I a1
N 2 I a2
Eb2 N1 I a1
Eb1 I a2

192.47 900 30

1084 rpm
191 25.1

LONG SHUNT COMPOUND MOTOR

- The series field coil is connected in series with
the armature coil while the shunt field coil is
connected across the series combination.

Eb Vs I a Ra Rse

I m I a I sh
Vs
I sh
Rsh

Example:
A long shunt compound motor draws
a line current of 42A from a 230V DC
source. The armature resistance is
0.1 ohm while the series and shunt
field resistances are 0.2 ohm and 50
ohm respectively. If the iron and
friction losses amount to 500W,
determine the overall efficiency of
the machine.

Vs 230
I sh

4.6 A
Rsh
50
I a I m I sh 42 4.6 37.4 A
Pa I a Ra 37.4 0.1 139.876W
2

Pse I a Rse 37.4 0.2 279.752W

2

Psh I shVs 4.6 230 1058W

Plosses Pa Pse Psh Piron & friction

Plosses 139.876 279.752 1058 500
Plosses 1977.628W

Pinput Vs I m 230 42 9660W

Poutput
Pinput

Pinput Plosses
Pinput

9660 1977.628

x100%
9660

79.53%

SHORT SHUNT COMPOUND GENERATOR

- The series field coil is connected in series with
the supply voltage while the shunt field coil is
connected in parallel with the armature coil.

Eb Vs I m Rse I a Ra

I m I a I sh
Vs I m Rse
I sh
Rsh

Example:
A 220V short shunt compound motor has
an armature resistance of 0.4 ohm, a
shunt field resistance of 110 ohms and a
series field resistance of 0.6 ohms. If this
motor draws an armature current of 50A
at rated load, determine
a. the counter emf
b. horsepower developed in the
armature

A.

Vs I m Rse 220 I m 0.6

I sh

2 0.005454 I m
Rsh
110
I m I a I sh

I m 50 2 0.005454 I m
I m 51.718 A
Eb Vs I m Rse I a Ra

Eb 220 51.718 0.6 50 0.4 168.97V

B.

Eb I a 168.97 50
Pd

11.325hp
746
746

PONY BRAKE TEST OF A MOTOR

This test is used to determine the output

horsepower of a motor.

T = (scale reading dead weight) (length of

arm)
where:
T = torque exerted by the motor during the test
N = speed of the motor shaft during the test (rpm)
Hp = output horsepower of the motor

Example 1:
The pony brake test of an elevator door
drive shunt motor, the ammeter and
voltmeter measuring the input read 34A
and 220V. The speed of the motor is found
to be 910 rpm and the balance on a 2 ft
brake arm read 27.2 pounds. The tare
weight of the arm is found to be positive
2.3 pounds. Determine the efficiency of
the motor at this load.

T = (scale reading dead weight) (length of

arm)

T 27.2 2.3 2 49.8lb ft

2NT 2 910 49.8

HPoutput

8.628hp
33000
33000
Vs I m 220 34
HPinput

10.026 hp
746
746

Pout
8.628

x100%
Pin 10.026

86.056%

Example 2:
Calculate the force that will be
exerted on the scale in a pony brake
test when a 20 hp, 1400 rpm motor
is operating at full load. The length of
the brake arm is 3 ft and the tare
weight of the brake is 3.75 lbs.

Let: F = force exerted on the scale

T = (scale reading dead weight) (length of
arm)

T F 3.75 3
2NT
HP
33,000

Substitute:

2 1400 F 3.75 3
20
33,000
F 28.76lbs

Assignment:
1. The shaft power of a shunt motor is 7.8 hp. It draws
50 A from 120 V. The field winding draws 1.2 A.
What is the efficiency of the motor? Ans: 96.98%
2. A shunt motor was tested by means of a pony
brake having a length arm of 3.5 feet and a tare
weight of 5.7 lbs. The current drawn by the
machine from a 240 V line was 50.9 A when the
scale reading was 24 lbs and the speed of the
motor was 1215 rpm. Calculate the rotational losses
of the motor. The armature and shunt field
resistances of the machine are 0.25 and 240,
respectively. Ans: 673.5 W