Chapter.4 MAGNETIC CIRCUIT OF A D.C.

MACHINE
The different parts of the dc machine magnetic circuit / pole are yoke, pole, air gap, armature
teeth and armature core. Therefore, the ampere
ampere-turns
turns /pole to establish the required flux in the
magnetic circuit is the sum of the ampere
ampere-turns required for different
fferent parts mentioned above.
That is,
AT / pole = ATy + ATp+ ATg + ATt + ATc

1. Yoke, 2. Pole, 3. Air gap, 4. Armature teeth, 5. Armature core, 6. Leakage flux
ab: Mean length of the flux path corresponding to one pole
GNA: Geometrical neutrall axis

Magnetic circuit of a 4 pole DC machine

Note:
1. Leakage factor or Leakage coefficient LC.
All the flux produced by the pole p will not pass through the desired path i.e., air gap. Some
of the flux produced by the pole will be leaking away from the air gap. The flux that passes
through the air gap and cut by the armature conductors is the useful flux and that flux that
leaks away from the desired path is the leakage flux 1 .
Thus
  
As leakage flux is generally around (15 to 25) % of ,

p = + (0.15 to 0.25)
= LC x
where LC is the Leakage factor or Leakage coefficient and lies between (1.15 to 1.25).
2. Magnitude of flux in different parts of the magnetic circuit
a) Flux in the yoke y = ( LC) /2
b) Flux in the pole p = LC
c) Flux in the air gap =
d) Flux in the armature teeth =
e) Flux in the armature core = / 2
3. Reluctance of the air gap
Reluctance of the air gap S =

l
a r
0

lg
( L)

as r =1.0 for air gap

where
lg = Length of air gap
= Width (pole arc) over which the flux is passing in the air gap
L = Axial length of the armature core
L = Air gap area / pole over which the flux is passing in the air gap
Because of the chamfering of the pole, the length of aair
ir gap under the pole varies from lg at the
'
center of the pole to l g >lg at the pole tip. The length of air gap to be considered for the
calculation of air gap reluctance is neither lg nor l 'g , but has to be a value in between lg and l 'g
.The length of air gap at the tips is generally 1.5 to 2 times the air gap length under the center
of the pole.
Because of the fringing of flux, the width over which the flux passes through the air gap is not
but it is more than that.

The effect of variation in air gap length and fringing of flux can be ignored as the former
appears in the numerator and the latter in the denominator of the expression for the
reluctance.
While calculating the reluctance of the air gap, effect of the presence of slots and ducts on the
armature must also be considered.
Effect of slots on the reluctance of the air gap
Consider a smooth surface armature (SSA) i.e. having no slots and ducts. Over a slot pitch s ,
reluctance of the air gap in the presence of smooth surface armature

lg
SSSA =
S L

------- (1)
0

Over the same slot pitch consider a slot and tooth. Because of the crowding effect, the flux
instead passing only over the tooth width bt, passes over some portion of the slot also. Thus the
width over which the flux is passing is equal to (bt + bs s ) where s is called the Carters
fringing coefficient for slots. It is less than 1.0 and depends on the ratio of slot opening to air
gap length and can be obtained from the Carters fringing coefficient curve.
The

reluctance of the air gap

lg
SAWS =
------- (2)
(b t + bs s ) L
0

in

the

presence

of

armat
armature

with

slots

Dividing 2 by 1,

SAWS
SSSA

lg / (b t + bs s ) L 0
lg / s L 0

SAWS =
=

SAWS =

s SSSA
(b t + bs s )
s SSSA
after adding and subtracting bsin the denominator
b t + b s s + b s b s
s SSSA
s - bs (1 - s )

= K gs SSSA

whereKgs is called the Carters gap expansion coefficient for slots and is greater than 1.0.
It is clear from the above expression that the effect of the slots is to increase the reluctance of
the air gap by a factor Kgs as compared to the reluctance of the air ggap
ap in the presence of a
smooth surface armature.
Effect of ventilating ducts on the reluctance of the air gap
Consider a smooth surface armature (SSA) i.e. armature having no slots and ducts. Reluctance
of the air gap, in the presence of a smooth surface armature

SSSA =

lg

DL 0

--------- (3)

Reluctance of the air gap in the presence of the armature with ducts (AWD)
lg
SAWD =
--------- (4)
D [L - n v b v ( l - v )] 0
where v is the carters fringing coefficient for ducts. It is less than 1.0 and depends on the
ratio opening of the duct to air gap length and is obtained from the Carters fringing coefficient
curve.

Dividing 4 by 3,

lg / D [ L - n v b v (1 - v ) ] 0

SAWD
SSSA

SAWD =

L SSSA
= K gv SSSA
L - n v b v (1- v )

lg / D L 0

whereKgv is called the Carters gap expansion coefficient for ducts and is greater than 1.0.
Thus the effect of ducts is to increase the reluctance of the air gap by a factor Kgv as compared
to the reluctance of the air gap in the presence oof a smooth surface armature.
Combined effect of slots and ducts on the reluctance of the air gap
The presence of slots and ducts increases the reluctance of the air gap by factors Kgs and Kgv
respectively. Together they increase the reluctance by a factor Kg called the Carters gap
expansion coefficient (or extension coefficient or contraction coefficient). Thus

K g = K gs K gv =

s
s - b os ( 1 - s )

L
L - n v b v ( 1 - v )

where
bos = opening of the slot
= width of the slot bs for open type of slot
<bs for semi-closed slots
= zero for closed slots
s or (1 - s ) = Carters fringing coefficient for slots and depends on the ratio bos / lg and can
be obtained from the carters fringing coefficient curve.
v or (1 - v ) = Carters fringing coefficient for ducts and depends on the ratio bv / lg and can
be obtained from the carters fringing coefficient curve.

Calculation of ampere-turns
turns per pole for the magnetic circuit of a DC machine
The total ampere turns / pole required for the magnetic circuit of a DC machine to establish
flux ,
AT / pole = Sum of the ampere turns required to over come the reluctance of the yoke,
pole, air gap, armature teeth and armature core
= ATy + ATp+ ATg + ATt + ATc
a) ampere turns for the yoke / pole ATy :
LC / 2
Flux density in the yoke By =
tesla
Ay
Let atybe the ampere turns per metre, obtained from the magnetization curve corresponding to
the yoke material, at By.

NOTE:
Ly = Axial length of the yoke
D = Diameter of the armature
dy = Depth of the yoke
lg = Length of air gap
Ay = Cross-sectional
sectional area of yoke = dyLy
hp = Height of the pole
bp = Width of the pole
Dy = Mean diameter of the yoke = (D + 2lg + 2hp + dy)
fg = Pole pitch at mean diameter of the yoke = Dy / P
Mean length of the flux path in the yoke
ly = abc = abcde / 2
= (fg 2fb + 2ab) /2
2 bp
2 dy
Dy
=
/2
4
2
P

Dy
=
P

bp
2

- dy / 2

Total ampere-turns
turns for the yoke / pole ATy = atyly
b) ampere turns for the pole ATp :
Flux density in the pole Bp =

LC

tesla
Ap
Let atpbe the ampere turns per metre, obtained from the magnetization curve corresponding to
the pole material, at Bp.

Note:
Lp = Axial length of the pole
Lpi = Net iron length of the pole
hp = Height of the pole including
pole shoe height
Lpi = KiLp

di = Diameter of the pole

Ap = Cross-sectional area of the pole
= bpLpi in case of square or
rectangular laminated poles
= d i2 /4 in case of circular poles

Mean length of the flux path in the pole = pole height hp

Total ampere turns for the pole / pole ATp = atphp
c) ampere turns for the air gap / pole ATg :
Since flux = mmf or AT / reluctance, ampere turns for the air gap per pole
ATg = x reluctance.
Though the reluctance of the air gap under a pole is

lg

L0

, it is to be multiplied by the

Carters gap expansion coefficient Kg = KgsKgv in order to account the effect of slots and
ducts. Therefore,
ATg =

lg K g
L

=
0

lg K g B g
4 x 1 0 -7

= 800,000lg KgBg (approximately)

whereBgis the maximum value of the flux density in the air gap along the center line of the
pole.
That is,
B av

P
=
=

D
L
L
DL

P
a v e r a g e v a lu e o f t h e f l u x d e n s i t y B a v
=
f i e l d f o r m f a c t o r K a n d i s a p p r o x i m a t e l y e q u a l t o p o llee e n c lloo s u r e
f

Bg =

d) ampere turns for the armature teeth / pole ATt:

Flux density in the armature tooth (in case of a parallel sided slot and tapered tooth) at 1/3
height from the root of the tooth

t1/3

t 1/3

S /P

where bt 1/3 = width of the tooth at 1/3 height from the root of the tooth
= (D - 4 / 3 h t ) - b s
S

Li = Net iron length of the armature core = Ki (L nvbv)

Let attbe the ampere turns per metre, obtained from the magnetization curve corresponding to
the armature core material,, at Bt 1/3.
Mean length of the flux path in the tooth = height of the tooth ht
Total ampere turns for the armature teeth / pole ATt = att ht
e) ampere turns for the armature core / pole ATc :
Flux density in the armature core Bc = / 2 tesla
Ac

Let atcbe the ampere turns per metre, obtained from the magnetization curve corresponding to
the armature core material, at Bc.

Note:
dc = Depth of the armature core
Ac = Cross-sectional
sectional area of the armature core = dc Li
Mean length of the flux path in the armature core
lc =

PQ R
=
2

(D - 2 h t - d c )
2P

Total ampere turns for the armature core / pole ATc = atc lc
Thus the total ampere-turns
turns required for the magnetic circuit of the DC machine
AT / pole = ATy + ATp+ ATg + ATt + ATc

Methods of calculating the ampere turns for the armature teeth:

For a parallel sided slot, the tooth is tapered and therefore the flux density at each and every
section of the tooth will be different. The flux density is least at the air gap surface of the tooth
where the flux enters the tooth and maximum at the root of the tooth where the tooth section is
minimum. Since the variation of flux density in the tooth is non
non-linear
ear because of saturation of
iron, the calculation of ampere turns becomes difficult.
Different methods available for the calculation of ATt are
1. Graphical method
2. Simpsons method and
3. Bt 1/3 method
Graphical method
In this method the tooth iss divided into a number of equal parts and flux density at each tooth
section is calculated. Corresponding to each flux density, At / m is obtained from the
magnetization curve. Assuming linearity between the sections considered, ATt is calculated.

Note:ht = height of the tooth or depth of the slot

bt1, bt2, bt3 etc., are the tooth width at different sections 1, 2, 3 etc.
Flux density at section l, Bt1 =
b

t1

S /P

Let the ampere turns / metre, obtained from the magnetization curve is H1 or at1 at Bt1.

Flux density at section 2, Bt2 =

b

t2

S / P

Let the ampere turns / metre, obtained from the magnetization curve is H2 or at2 at Bt2.
Flux density at section 3, Bt3 =

b
L S /P
t3 i

Let the ampere turns / metre, obtained from the magnetization curve is H3 or at3 at Bt3.
Similarly let H4 be the ampere turns / metre at Bt4 etc.
Total ampere turns for the teeth / pole

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ATt =

H1 + H 2
2

ht
n

+ H 2 + H 3 ht +
2

H3 + H4
2

h t etc.,
n

where n is the number of parts by which the tooth is divided.

Simpsons method
In this method the tooth is divided into two equal parts. The flux density at each section is
calculated and the corresponding ampere turns / metre are obtained from the magnetization
curve.

tooth at section 1, 2 and 3

Note:bt1, bt2, bt3 are the width of the too

Let H1 be the AT/m corresponding to the flux density Bt1 =

Let H2 be the AT/m corresponding to the flux density Bt2=

Let H3 be the AT/m corresponding to the flux density Bt3=

at section 1.

S /P

b t1 L i

at section 2.

b t2 L i S /P

b t3 L i S /P

at section 3.

According to Simpsons rule, average ampere turns / m

1
Hav =
( H1 + 4H2 + H3)
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Total ampere turns for the armature teeth / pole ATt = Hav ht
Bt 1/3 method
In this method, ATt is obtained considering the flux density at 1/3 height from the root of the
tooth.
Flux density in the tooth at 1/3 height from the root of the tooth

B t 1 /3 =

b t 1 /3 L i

S /P

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Let attbe the ampere turns per metre, obtained from the magnetization curve corresponding to
the armature core material, at Bt 1/3.
Total ampere turns for the teeth / pole ATt = att ht .
[Note: In all the above three methods, the effect of saturation of iron is neglected. In other
words all the flux under a slot pitch is assumed to be passing through the tooth only].
Real and Apparent Flux densities
When the iron is not saturated, reluctance of the iron will be less and all the flux
f
s over a slot
pitch will be passing through the tooth only. However, when the iron gets saturated, reluctance
of the iron increases considerably and the flux over the slot pitch divides itself to take both slot
and tooth paths.
Thus the flux density =

is not the real or actual flux density

iro n area o f th e to o th A i

in the tooth, but it is an apparent flux density. The real flux density Brealwill, however,
be equal to

f lu x i n tthh e t o o t h o r ir o n p a tthh i
n e t i r o n a r e a o f th
th e to o th A i

and will be less than the apparent flux

density Bapp.

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Area of iron or tooth area over which flux is passing Ai = bt Li

Total area over the slot pitch s L = area of iron Ai + area of non-magnetic
magnetic path An

i + n

An
= Breal + Bn K
Ai
Ai
Ai
Ai
An
Ai
where Bn = 0 r H = 0 H is the flux density in the non-magnetic
magnetic path and K is a constant
equal to An / Ai . The magnetizing force H is the ampere turns / metre to establish Breal or Bn.
Bapp =

= Breal +

Therefore Bapp = Breal + 0 H K

An
A + An
L
)= i
then K = (Ks 1).
= s
Ai
Ai
b t Li
Thus Bapp = Breal + 0 H (Ks 1) and is an equation of straight line.
If the slot factor Ks = 1 + K = (1 +

[Note: Since the actual value of flux passing through the slot or tooth is not known, Bn and Breal
and therefore the AT / m i.e. H to establish Bn or Breal are also not known. Hence the equation
Bapp = Breal + 0 H (Ks 1) has two unknow
unknowns Breal and H. Thus the equation cannot be solved.
However the values of Breal and H can be found by plotting the above equation on the
magnetization curve. The intersection point of the magnetization curve and the straight line
provides the values of Breal and H.]

The co-ordinates,
ordinates, of the intersection point of magnetization curve and straight line provides the
values of Breal and H.
Therefore the total ampere-turns
turns for the armature teeth / pole ATt = H ht .

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No-load, Magnetization or Open circuit characteristic (OCC)

Since the OCC is a plot of emf induced and AT, ampere
ampere-turns
turns for different assumed voltages or
flux are found out by calculating ATy ,ATp , ATg, ATt and ATc. Accuracy of the curve
increases as the number of voltages considered increases.

Information that can be obtained from the open circuit characteristic is,
1) The value of critical field resistance.
2) shunt and series field ampere
ampere-turns
3) Effect of armature
re reaction in conjunction with the internal characteristic.

******************

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