Speed Control of DC Shunt Motor

The purposeful change in drive speed is referred to as the Speed Control of DC Shunt motor.

Speed Control of DC Shunt Motor
Speed Control of DC Shunt Motor

Dc motors are indispensable for many adjustable speed drives as Speed control can be achieved in dc motors. The expression for the speed of a dc motor is given by:

The above expression reveals that the speed can be controlled by adjusting any one of the three factors appearing on the right-hand side of the expression:

  1. applied voltage to the armature terminals, V
  2. external resistance in the armature circuit, R
  3. the flux per pole, Φ

Speed control methods are broadly classified as :

  1. Armature control methods
  2. Field control methods

Speed Control of DC shunt motor

Field control methods

The weakening of the field causes an increase in the speed of a motor and the strengthening of the field reduces the speed. Speed adjustment can be obtained by:

  • Field-rheostat control involves the variation of flux by means of a field rheostat.
  • Reluctance control involving the variation of the reluctance of the magnetic circuit of the motor.
  • Field-voltage control involves the variation of voltage applied to the field circuit keeping the voltage applied to the armature terminals constant.

Field Rheostat Control

This method of speed control is very simple, convenient, and economical and is used in modern electric drives. In this method, speed variation is achieved by means of a variable resistance inserted in series with the shunt field. An increase in controlling resistance reduces the field current, with a consequent reduction in flux and an increase in speed. The controlling resistance is made up of a slide-wire-type resistor to provide continuously variable speed across the range. This method is independent of the load on the motor.

Field Rheostat control For a DC shunt motor

The value of controlling resistance to provide a desired increase in speed can be determined from the magnetization characteristics of the machine.

Let the initial values of back emf,flux and speed be Eb1,Φ1 and N1 respectively and let the back emf and flux be Eb2 and Φ2 respectively at new speed N2.

since N ∝ Eb/Φ

Eb1 and Eb2 can be calculated from the values of supply voltage,armature resistance and armature current Ia1 and Ia2. Therefore flux Φ2 can be determined by above equation.Form the magnetization curve of the machine the value of filed current corresponding to the value of Φ2 can be obtained .And from the value of the field current, the controlling resistance can be determined.

Limitations and Drawbacks

  • Flux only can be reduced.
  • creeping speeds cannot be obtained.
  • High speed are only obtained by reducing torque.
  • At higher speeds, the field is very weak and causes the armature current to increase which causes the overheating of the armature, poor commutation, and instability. To avoid the instability caused by the relatively powerful effect of armature reaction on high-speed dc shunt motors are often provided with a relatively weak series field winding.

Speed-torque characteristics

Speed-Torque characteristics of DC shunt motor with Field Control
Speed-Torque characteristics of DC shunt motor with Field Control

Armature control method

speed adjustment of dc shunt motors by armature control may be obtained by:

  • Armature resistance control involving the variation of voltage applied to the armature terminals by means of a variable resistance connected in series with the armature.
  • Shunted armature control involving the variation of voltage applied to the armature terminals by means of a combination of a variable resistance shunting the armature and a variable resistance in series with the shunted armature.
  • Armature terminal voltage control involving variation of voltage impressed upon the armature circuit.

Armature Resistance Control

This method consists of a variable resistance connected in series with the armature. The voltage across the armature drops as the current passes through the series resistance and the remaining voltage applied to the armature is lower than the line voltage. Thus the speed is reduced in direct proportion to this voltage drop at the armature terminals. The field current will remain unaffected as the shunt field is directly connected across the supply mains.

:Armature Resistance control method for DC shunt motor
Armature Resistance control method for DC shunt motor
speed-torque characteristics of DC shunt motor with Armature control
speed-torque characteristics of DC shunt motor with Armature control

For a constant torque load,the armature current remains the same so input to the motor remains the same but the output decreases in proportion to speed.

Let Eb1 be the back emf at speed N1 with armature current Ia1 and no extra resistance in the armature circuit. When an extra resistance R is inserted in the armature circuit, the back emf be Eb2 speed N2, and armature current Ia2 and flux remain the same.

From the above equation(i) we can determined the value of the resistance to be inserted in series with the armature.

Considering no load speed,

If the voltage drop in armature at no load is neglected then we have,

For the given resistance (Ra+R) the speed is a linear function of armature current Ia.

The motor speed will be Zero i.e the motor will be stalled when Ia=V/(R+Ra). This is the maximum current and is known as stalling current.

This method of speed control is employed where speeds lower than the rated one are required for a short period only. such as in printing machines, cranes, and hoists where the motor is frequently started and stopped. It is also employed where the load drops off rapidly with decrease in speed as in fans and blowers.

References

  • https://robu.in/speed-control-of-dc-motor/
  • https://www.electricaleasy.com/2014/01/speed-control-methods-of-dc-motor.html
  • https://www.yourelectricalguide.com/2017/09/speed-control-of-dc-shunt-motor.html
  • https://www.tutorialspoint.com/what-is-speed-control-of-dc-shunt-motors
  • https://www.electrical4u.com/speed-control-of-dc-motor/

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