DC Machines - Mechatronics Engineering

Study Notes

DC machines convert mechanical energy to DC electric energy (generators) and vice versa (motors).
Internal operations involve AC voltages; output is DC due to a commutator mechanism.
Often referred to as commutating machinery.

A basic DC machine consists of a single rotating wire loop (rotor) around a stationary axis (stator).
Magnetic fields are created by north and south poles on the stator, ensuring uniform magnetic flux under the pole faces.
Torque is generated when a battery is connected, relying on the machine's flux, current, and mechanical structure.

DC machines experience various losses during operation, categorized into five types:
- Electrical (copper) losses from armature and field windings, given by I²R.
- Brush losses caused by voltage drop across brushes, approximately 2V.
- Core losses (hysteresis and eddy current losses) depend on flux density and rotor speed.
- Mechanical losses from friction in bearings (friction losses) and air friction (windage losses).
- Stray load losses, which are miscellaneous losses not categorized elsewhere, typically around 1% of full load power.
The efficiency of a DC machine is calculated as the ratio of output power to input power.

Various types include:
- Motors: Permanent Magnet, Separately Excited, Shunt, Series, Compound.
- Generators: Similar categorization based on output characteristics.
Each type provides different voltage-current or speed-torque characteristics suited for specific applications.

Speed regulation (SR) measures how a motor's speed changes with loading conditions, defined by SR = (ωn - ωf) / ωf.
Positive SR indicates a drop in speed with increased load; negative SR indicates an increase with load.
Most motors operate near saturation on the magnetization curve for optimal power output.

Common control methods for separately excited and shunt DC motors:
- Adjusting Field Resistance: Alters field current and thus causes flux changes leading to speed variations.
- Adjusting Terminal Voltage: Affects armature current, altering torque and speed accordingly.
- Inserting Series Resistor: Decreases armature current reducing speed until load torque aligns with induced torque.

DC motors often come with a nameplate tag detailing specifications such as voltage, current, speed, and power rating, essential for effective system integration and application.

Examples demonstrate how to calculate motor speeds under different current scenarios, including how to adjust resistances to manage operational speeds effectively under given loading conditions.