Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research

Al-Mustaqbal University
College of Engineering & Technology
Medical Instrumentation Techniques Engineering Department
Electrical Technology
Third Class

Weeks 15, 16
Characteristics of DC Generator

By Osamah Jaber Ghayyib

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1. Introduction

The speed of a d.c. machine operated as a generator is fixed by the prime mover. For
general-purpose operation, the prime mover is equipped with a speed governor so that the speed
of the generator is practically constant. Under such conditions, the generator performance deals
primarily with the relation between excitation, terminal voltage and load. These relations can be
best exhibited graphically by means of curves known as generator characteristics. These
characteristics show briefly the behavior of the generator under different load conditions.

2. D.C. Generator Characteristics

The following are the three most important characteristics of a d.c. generator:

2.1 Open Circuit Characteristic (O.C.C.)

This curve shows the relation between the generated e.m.f. at no-load (E0) and the field
current (If) at constant speed. It is also known as magnetic characteristic or no-load saturation
curve. Its shape is practically the same for all generators whether separately or self-excited. The
data for O.C.C. curve is obtained experimentally by operating the generator at no load and
constant speed and recording the change in terminal voltage as the field current is varied.

2.2 Internal or Total characteristic (E/Ia)

This curve shows the relation between the generated e.m.f. on load (E) and the armature
current (Ia). The e.m.f. E is less than E0 due to the demagnetizing effect of armature reaction.
Therefore, this curve will lie below the open circuit characteristic (O.C.C.). The internal
characteristic is of interest chiefly to the designer. It cannot be obtained directly by experiment.
It is because a voltmeter cannot read the e.m.f. generated on the load due to the voltage drop in
armature resistance. The internal characteristic can be obtained from external characteristic if
winding resistances are known because armature reaction effect is included in both
characteristics.

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2.3 External characteristic (V/IL)
This curve shows the relation between the terminal voltage (V) and load current (IL). The
terminal voltage V will be less than E due to voltage drop in the armature circuit. Therefore, this
curve will lie below the internal characteristic. This characteristic is very important in determining
the suitability of a generator for a given purpose. It can be obtained by making simultaneous
measurements of terminal voltage and load current (with voltmeter and ammeter) of a loaded
generator.

3. Characteristics of a Separately Excited D.C. Generator

3.1 Open circuit characteristic.

The arrangement for obtaining the necessary data to plot this curve is shown in Fig. 1. The
exciting or field current If is obtained from an external independent d.c. source. It can be varied
from zero upwards by a potentiometer and its value read by an ammeter A connected in the field
circuit as shown.

Now, the voltage equation of a d.c. generator is: -

𝑍𝑃∅𝑁
𝐸𝑔 = 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡 (1)
𝐴 60

Fig. 1

Hence, if speed is constant, the above relation becomes: -

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 𝐸𝑔 = 𝑘∅ 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡 (2)

It is obvious that when If is increased from its initial small value, the flux ∅ and hence
generated e.m.f. Eg increase directly as current so long as the poles are unsaturated. This is
represented by the straight portion Od in Fig. 1 (b). But as the flux density increases, the poles
become saturated, so a greater increase in If is required to produce a given increase in voltage
than on the lower part of the curve. That is why the upper portion db of the curve Odb bends over
as shown.

3.2 Load Saturation Curve (V/If)

The curve showing relation between the terminal voltage V and field current I f when the
generator is loaded, is known as Load Saturation Curve.

The curve can be deduced from the no-load saturation curve provided the values of
armature reaction and armature resistance are known. While considering this curve, account is
taken of the demagnetizing effect of armature reaction and the voltage drop in armature which
are practically absent under no-load conditions. Under load conditions, the voltage will decrease
due to demagnetizing effect of armature reaction. This decrease can be made up by suitably
increasing the field amp-turns.

3.3 Internal and External Characteristics

Considering a separately excited generator giving its rated no-load voltage of E0 for a
certain constant field current. If there were no armature reaction and armature voltage drop, then
this voltage would have remained constant as shown in Fig. 2 by the horizontal line I. But when
the generator is loaded, the voltage falls due to these two causes, thereby giving slightly dropping
characteristics.

If we subtract from E0 the value of voltage drops due to armature reaction for different
loads, then we get the value of E–the e.m.f. actually induced in the armature under load
conditions. Curve II is plotted in this way and is known as the internal characteristic. The straight
line Oa represents the IaRa drops corresponding to different armature currents. If we subtract from

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E the armature drop IaRa, we get terminal voltage V. Curve III represents the external
characteristic and is obtained by subtracting ordinates the line Oa from those of curve II.

Fig. 2

4. Characteristics of a Shunt Generator

Fig (4) (i) shows the connections of a shunt wound generator. The armature current Ia splits
up into two parts; a small fraction Ish flowing through shunt field winding while the major part IL
goes to the external load.

4.1 Voltage Build-Up

Before loading a shunt generator, it is allowed to build up its voltage. Usually, there is
always present some residual magnetism in the poles, hence a small e.m.f. is produced initially.
This e.m.f. circulates a small current in the field circuit which increases the pole flux (provided
field circuit is properly connected to armature, otherwise this current may wipe off the residual
magnetism). When flux is increased, generated e.m.f. is increased which further increases the flux
and so on. As shown in Fig. 3, Oa is the induced e.m.f. due to residual magnetism which appears
across

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 the field circuit and causes a field current Ob to flow. These current aids residual flux and
hence produces, a larger induced e.m.f. Oc. In turn, this increased e.m.f. Oc causes an even larger
current Od which creates more flux for a still larger e.m.f. and so on.

Now, the generated e.m.f. in the armature has

(a) to supply the ohmic drop 𝑖𝑓 𝑅𝑓 in the winding and (b) to overcome the opposing self-
𝑑𝑖𝑓
induced e.m.f. in the field coil i.e. 𝐿 because field coils have appreciable self-inductance.
𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝑖𝑓
𝐸𝑔 = 𝑖𝑓 𝑅𝑓 + 𝐿 (3)
𝑑𝑡

Fig. 3

If (and so long as), the generated e.m.f. is more than the ohmic drop 𝑖𝑓 𝑅𝑓 , energy would
continue being stored in the pole fields. For example, as shown in Fig. 3, corresponding to field
current OA, the generated e.m.f. is AC. Out of this, AB goes to supply ohmic drop If Rsh and BC

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goes to overcome self-induced e.m.f. in the coil. Corresponding to If = OF, whole of the generated
𝑑𝑖𝑓
e.m.f. is used to overcome the ohmic drop. None is left to overcome 𝐿 ⁄ . Hence no energy
𝑑𝑡
is stored in the pole fields. Consequently, there is no further increase in pole flux and the generated
e.m.f. With the given shunt field resistance represented by line OP, the maximum voltage to
which the machine will build up is OE. If resistance is decreased, it will build up to a somewhat
higher voltage. OR represents the resistance known as critical resistance. If shunt field resistance
is greater than this value, the generator will fail to excite.

4.2 O.C.C.
The O.C.C. of a shunt generator is similar in shape to that of a series generator as shown
in Fig. (4) (ii). The line OA represents the shunt field circuit resistance. When the generator is
run at normal speed, it will build up a voltage OM. At no-load, the terminal voltage of the
generator will be constant (= OM) represented by the horizontal dotted line MC.

Fig. 4

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4.3 Internal characteristic
When the generator is loaded, flux per pole is reduced due to armature reaction. Therefore,
e.m.f. E generated on load is less than the e.m.f. generated at no load. As a result, the internal
characteristic (E/Ia) drops down slightly as shown in Fig.4 (ii).

4.4 External characteristic

Curve 2 shows the external characteristic of a shunt generator. It gives the relation between
terminal voltage V and load current IL.

V = E − I𝑎 R 𝑎 = E − (I𝐿 + I𝑠ℎ )R 𝑎 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡 (4)

Therefore, external characteristic curve will lie below the internal characteristic curve by
an amount equal to drop in the armature circuit [i.e., (I𝐿 + I𝑠ℎ )R 𝑎 ] as shown in Fig. 4 (ii). Note.
It may be seen from the external characteristic that the change in terminal voltage from no-load
to full load is small. The terminal voltage can always be maintained constant by adjusting the
field rheostat R automatically.

4.5 Critical Field Resistance for a Shunt Generator

Now, connect the field windings back to the armature and run the machine as a shunt
generator. Due to residual magnetism in the poles, some e.m.f. and hence current, would be
generated. This current while passing through the field coils will strengthen the magnetism of the
poles (provided field coils are properly connected as regards polarity).

This will increase the pole flux, which will further increase the generated e.m.f. Increased
e.m.f. means more current which further increases the flux and so on. This mutual reinforcement
of e.m.f. and flux proceeds on till equilibrium is reached at some point like P (Fig. 5). The point
lies on the resistance line OA of the field winding. Let R be the resistance of the field winding.
Line OA is drawn such that its slope equals the field winding resistance i.e. every point on this
curve is such that volt/ampere = R.

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 Fig. 5

The voltage OL corresponding to point P represents the maximum voltage to which the
machine will build up with R as field resistance. OB represents smaller resistance, and the
corresponding voltage OM is slightly greater than OL. If field resistance is increased, then slope
of the resistance line increased, and hence the maximum voltage to which the generator will build
up at a given speed decreases. If R is increased so much that the resistance line does not cut the
O.C.C. at all (like OT ), then obviously the machine will fail to excite i.e. there will be no ‘build
up’ of the voltage. If the resistance line just lies along the slope, then with that value of field
resistance, the machine will just excite. The value of the resistance represented by the tangent to
the curve, is known as critical resistance Rc for a given speed.

4.6 Critical Speed (NC)

The critical speed of a shunt generator is the minimum speed below which it fails to excite.
Clearly, it is the speed for which the given shunt field resistance represents the critical resistance.
In Fig. 6, curve 2 corresponds to critical speed because the shunt field resistance (R sh) line is
tangential to it. If the generator runs at full speed N, the new O.C.C. moves upward and the R' sh
line represents critical resistance for this speed.

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  Speed  Critical resistance In order to find critical speed, take any convenient point C
on excitation axis and erect a perpendicular so as to cut R sh and R'sh lines at points B and A
respectively. Then,

Fig. 6

E2 𝑁2
= (5)
E1 𝑁1

𝑁2
E2 = E (6)
𝑁1 1

4.7 Conditions for Voltage Build-Up of a Shunt Generator

The necessary conditions for voltage build-up in a shunt generator are:

(i) There must be some residual magnetism in generator poles.

(ii) The connections of the field winding should be such that the field current strengthens
the residual magnetism.

(iii) The resistance of the field circuit should be less than the critical resistance. In other
words, the speed of the generator should be higher than the critical speed.

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 Example 1: The magnetization curve of a d.c. shunt generator at 1500 r.p.m. is.

For this generator find (i) no load e.m.f. for a total shunt field resistance of 100 Ω (ii) the
critical field resistance at 1500 r.p.m. and (iii) the magnetization curve at 1200 r.p.m. and
therefrom the open-circuit voltage for a field resistance of 100 Ω

Solution
T
N1=1500 rpm (Curve I) A I
N2=1200 rpm (Curve II) II
C
Point A (EMF , If) at full load

(i) From figure Emf = 227.5 V

O
(ii) Rc = 225/1.5=150 Ω at 1500 rpm
𝑁2 1200
(iii) = = 𝟎. 𝟖
𝑁1 1500

The values of these voltages are tabulated below :

Then emf = 166 V at Rf=100 Ω

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 Example 2: The open-circuit characteristic of a separately-excited d.c. generator driven at
1000 r.p.m. is as follows :

If the machine is connected as shunt generator and driven at 1,000 r.p.m. and has a field
resistance of 100 Ω, find

(a) open-circuit voltage and exciting current

(b) the critical resistance and

(c) resistance to induce 115 volts on open circuit.

Solution

(a) O.C. voltage = 100 V; Exciting

current = 1 A

(b) Line OT is tangent to the initial

part of the O.C.C.

It represents critical resistance. As

seen from point C,

value of critical resistance is 90/0.6 = 150 Ω

(c) Line OB represents shunt resistance for getting 115 V on open-circuit.

Its resistance = 115/ 1.4 = 82.1 Ω 

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 Example 3: A shunt generator gave the following open-circuit characteristic

The armature and field resistances are 0.1 Ω and 80 Ω respectively. Calculate

(a) the voltage to which the machine will excite when run as a shunt generator at the same
speed. (b) The volts lost due to armature reaction when 100 A are passing in the armature at a
terminal voltage of 175 V.

Solution

(a) OA represents 80 Ω line. The

maximum voltage to which the generator M A
will build up is given by OM = 222 V.
C F
(b) With 175 V terminal on load
80Ω
Ish = 175/80 = 2.2 A

Voltage corresponding to this field O

current is given by OC = 195 V.

Voltage lost due to armature reaction

and armature drop = 195 −175 = 20 V.

Now, armature drop = 0.1 × 100 = 10 V

Let ‘x’ be the volts lost due to armature reaction.

Then 10 + x = 20  x = 10 V

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5. Characteristics of Series Generator

Fig. 7 (i) shows the connections of a series wound generator. Since there is only one current
(that which flows through the whole machine), the load current is the same as the exciting current.

Fig. 7

5.1 O.C.C.
Curve 1 shows the open circuit characteristic (O.C.C.) of a series generator. It can be
obtained experimentally by disconnecting the field winding from the machine and exciting it from
a separate d.c. source.

5.2 Internal characteristic

Curve 2 shows the total or internal characteristic of a series generator. It gives the relation
between the generated e.m.f. E. on load and armature current. Due to armature reaction, the flux
in the machine will be less than the flux at no load. Hence, e.m.f. E generated under load
conditions will be less than the e.m.f. E0 generated under no load conditions. Consequently,
internal characteristic curve lies below the O.C.C. curve; the difference between them
representing the effect of armature reaction [See Fig. 7 (ii)].

5.3 External characteristic

Curve 3 shows the external characteristic of a series generator. It gives the relation between
terminal voltage and load current IL:.

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 V = E − I𝑎 (R 𝑎 + R 𝑠ℎ ) 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡 (7)

Therefore, external characteristic curve will lie below internal characteristic curve by an
amount equal to ohmic drop [i.e., I𝑎 (R 𝑎 + R 𝑠ℎ ) ] in the machine as shown in Fig. 7 (ii).

The internal and external characteristics of a d.c. series generator can be plotted from one
another as shown in Fig. 8. Suppose we are given the internal characteristic of the generator. Let
the line OC represent the resistance of the whole machine i.e. I𝑎 (R 𝑎 + R 𝑠ℎ ) . If the load current
is OB, drop in the machine is AB i.e.

AB = Ohmic drop in the machine = OB((R 𝑎 + R 𝑠ℎ ) Now raise a perpendicular from point
B and mark a point b on this line such that ab = AB. Then point b will lie on the external
characteristic of the generator. Following similar procedure, other points of external characteristic
can be located. It is easy to see that we can also plot internal characteristics from the external
characteristic.

Fig. 8

5.4 Critical Resistance for a Series Generator

Fig. 9 shows the voltage build up in a series generator. Here R1, R2 etc. represent the total
circuit resistance (load resistance and field winding resistance). If the total circuit resistance is
R1, then the series generator will build up a voltage OL.

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 Fig. 9

The line OC is tangent to O.C.C. and represents the critical resistance RC for a series
generator. If the total resistance of the circuit is more than RC (say line OD), the generator will
fail to build up voltage.

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