Characteristics of DC Machines

Abstract

Working with DC machines requires the knowledge on their electrical and mechanical properties, parameters, and limitations. This chapter introduces and explains the concept of rated quantities and discusses the maximum permissible currents in continuous, steady-state service of DC machines. It also defines the safe operating area of DC machines in T em –Ω m plane, both in steady-state operation and during transients. For the sake of readers that meet electrical machines for the first time, the concepts of rated current, rated voltage, mechanical characteristics, natural characteristics, rated speed, rated torque, and rated power are introduced and explained in this chapter. The need to use machines at higher speeds and with reduced flux is discussed and explained, introducing at the same time the constant flux operating region and the field-weakening operating region. The problems of removing the heat caused by the conversion losses are analyzed along with the performance restrictions imposed by temperature limits. Besides, an insight is given into possible short-term overload operation of DC machines. Principal conversion losses in DC machines are analyzed, discussed, and included in power balance. This chapter closes by discussing permissible operating areas in torque-speed plane. The steady-state safe operating area in T em –Ω m plane is also called exploitation characteristics. It is introduced and explained along with the transient safe operating area, also called the transient characteristic. Discussion and examples within this chapter are focused on separately excited DC machines.