Types of D.C.

Generators

According to the way in which their fields are excited, generators are classified into:

1. Separately excited D.C. Generator are those whose field

magnets are energized from an independent source of D.C. Current. Separately excited
generators are often used in feedback control systems when control of the
armature voltage over a wide range is required.

If I
Brush
+
L
Eg O V
A
Field Winding D

-
Brush

Ra = Armature Resistance

2. Self excited D.C. Generators are those whose field

magnets are energized by the currents produced by the generators
themselves.

There are 3 types of self-excited D.C. Generators named according to

the manner in which their field coils are connected to the armature.

These are :

• Shunt wound D.C. Generator

• Series wound D.C. Generator
• Compound wound D.C. Generator
3. Shunt wound D.C. Generator have field windings and armature windings connected
in parallel (shunt). The output varies inversely with load current. It contains many turns
of fine wires. When a generator is in operation, whether or not it is delivering load
current, the shunt field is always excited.

Ish I
+
Ia
Ra L
Shunt Field O V
Eg A
Rsh D

Rsh – Shunt Field Resistance

Ra - Armature Resistance

4. Series wound D.C. Generator have field windings and armature windings connected
in series. Outputs vary directly with load currents. Series-wound generators have few
practical applications. It has few turns of heavy wires. When a generator is in operation,
the series field is excited only when a load current is being supplied. In series generator,
therefore, the terminal voltage is very low at light loads because of the excitation or load
current is low.

Ia=Ise=I Rse

Series Field
+
L
O V
Eg
A
D
5. Compound wound D.C. Generator have both series field windings and shunt field
windings. These generators combine the characteristics of series and shunt generators.
The output voltage remains relatively constant for all values of load current within the
design of the generator. Compound generators are used in many applications because of
the relatively constant voltage.

a. Short Shunt shunt field winding directly in parallel with the armature brushes and the
series field winding connected between the parallel combination of shunt field and
armature.

Series Field

Ish
L V
Ia O
A
D
Shunt Field Eg
b. Long Shunt shunt field is connected in parallel with the series field and armature.
Ish I

Series Field

Ia
Shunt Field L V
O
Eg A
D