DC GENERATOR, BASIC PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION, CONSTRUCTION & WORKING PRINCIPLE

DC GENERATOR
D.C generators may be classified as

(i) Separately excited generator,

(ii) Shunt generator,
(iii) Series generator and
(iv) Compound generator.

In a separately excited generator field winding is energized from a separate

voltage source in order to produce flux in the machine. So long the machine
operates in unsaturated condition the flux produced will be proportional to the
field current. In order to implement shunt connection, the field winding is
connected in parallel with the armature. It will be shown that subject to
fulfillment of certain conditions, the machine may have sufficient field current
developed on its own by virtue of its shunt connection.
In series d.c machine, there is one field winding wound over the main poles with
fewer turns and large cross sectional area. Series winding is meant to be
connected in series with the armature and naturally to be designed for rated
armature current. Obviously there will be practically no voltage or very small
voltage due to residual field under no load condition (Ia=0). However, field gets
strengthened as load will develop rated voltage across the armature with reverse
polarity, is connected and terminal voltage increases. Variation in load resistance
causes the terminal voltage to vary. Terminal voltage will start falling, when
saturation sets in and armature reaction effect becomes pronounced at large load
current. Hence, series generators are not used for delivering power at constant
voltage. Series generator found application in boosting up voltage in d.c
transmission system.

A compound generator has two separate field coils wound over the field poles.
The coil having large number of turns and thinner cross sectional area is called
the shunt field coil and the other coil having few number of turns and large cross

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 DC GENERATOR, BASIC PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION, CONSTRUCTION & WORKING PRINCIPLE

sectional area is called the series field coil. Series coil is generally connected in
series with the armature while the shunt field coil is connected in parallel with
the armature. If series coil is left alone without any connection, then it becomes a
shunt machine with the other coil connected in parallel.

BASIC PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION

The generator is an application of electromagnetic induction. It works on the
principle that when a wire is moved in a magnetic field, then the current is
induced in the coil. A rectangular coil is made to rotate rapidly in the magnetic
field between the poles of a horse shoe type magnet. When the coil rotates, it cuts
the lines of magnetic force, due to which a current is produced in the generator
coil. This current can be used to run the various electrical appliances.

CONSTRUCTION
A simple D.C. generator consists of a rectangular coil ABCD which can be rotated
rapidly between the poles N and S of a strong horse-shoe type magnet M. The
generator coil is made of a large number of turns of insulated copper wire. The
two ends of the coil are connected to the two copper half rings (or split rings) R1
and R2 of a commutator. There are two carbon brushes B1 and B2 which press
lightly against the two half rings. When the coil is rotated, the two half rings R1
and R2 touch the two carbon brushes B1 and B2 one by one. So the current
produced in the rotating coil can be tapped out through the commutator half
rings and into the carbon brushes. From the carbon brushes B1 and B2 we can
supply current into various electrical appliances like radio, television, electric
bulb etc.

WORKING PRINCIPLE
Let us suppose that the generator coil ABCD is initially in the horizontal position.
As the coil rotates in the anticlockwise direction between the pole N and S of the
magnet the side AB of the coil moves down cutting the magnetic lines of force

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 DC GENERATOR, BASIC PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION, CONSTRUCTION & WORKING PRINCIPLE

near the N-pole of the magnet and side DC moves up, cutting the lines of force
near the S-pole of the magnet. Due to this, induced current is produced in the
sides AB and DC of the coil. On applying Fleming's right hand rule to the sides AB
and DC of the coil we find that the currents in them are in the directions B to A
and D to C respectively. Thus the induced currents in the two sides of the coil are
in the same direction and we get an effective induced current in the direction
BADC. Due to this the brush B1 becomes the positive pole and brush B2 becomes
the negative pole of the generator.

After half revolution, the sides AB and DC of the coil will interchange their
positions. The side AB will come on the right hand side and starts moving up
whereas side DC will come on the left hand side and start moving down. But
when sides of the coil interchange their positions, then the two commutator half
rings R1 and R2 automatically change their contacts from one carbon brush to
the other. Due to this change, the current keeps flowing in the same direction.
Thus a DC generator supplies a current only in one direction.

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