University of wasit

Department of Electrical Engineering

Second Year / Semester I

DC Machine
Part-4
Armature Reaction:
The effect of magnetic field set up by armature current on the
distribution of flux under main poles of a generator called the
armature reaction. The armature magnetic field has two effects:
(i) It demagnetizes or weakens the main flux and
(ii) It cross-magnetizes or distorts it.
Fig 1 shows the flux distribution of a bipolar generator when there
is no current in the armature conductors. The brushes are touching
the armature conductors directly, although in practice, they touch
commutator segments, it is seen that:
(a) The flux is distributed symmetrically with respect to the polar
axis, which is the line joining the centers of NS poles.
(b) The magnetic neutral axis (M.N.A.) coincides with the
geometrical neutral axis (G.N.A.). Magnetic neutral axis may be
defined as the axis along which no emf is produced in the
armature conductors because they move parallel to the lines of
flux. Or M.N.A. is the axis which is perpendicular to the flux
passing through the armature.
 Fig. (1)
Brushes are always placed along M.N.A. Hence, M.N.A. is also called
‘axis of commutation’ because reversal of current in armature
conductors takes place across this axis. Vector Fm which represents,
both magnitude and direction, the mmf of producing the main flux.
Fig 2 shows the field (or flux) set up by the armature conductors
alone when carrying current, the field coils being unexcited. The
current direction is downwards in conductors under N-pole and
upwards in those under S-pole.
 Fig (2)
The armature mmf (depending on the strength of the armature
current) is shown separately both in magnitude and direction
by the vector FA. Under actual load conditions, the two mmf
exist simultaneously in the generator as shown in Fig. 3. It is
seen that the flux through the armature is no longer uniform
and symmetrical about the pole axis, rather it has been
distorted. The flux is seen to be crowded at the trailing pole
tips but weakened or thinned out at the leading pole tips (the
pole tip which is first met during rotation by armature
conductors is known as the leading pole tip and the other as
trailing pole tip). The strengthening and weakening of flux is
In Fig.3 is shown the resultant mmf OF (The new position of M.N.A.)
which is found by vectorially combining OFm and OFA. And the new
position of M.N.A which is always perpendicular to the resultant mmf
vector OF, is also shown in the figure. With the shift of M.N.A., say
through an angle θ brushes are also shifted so as to lie along the new
position of M.N.A. Due to this brush shift , the armature conductors and
hence armature current is redistributed. All conductors to the left of
new position of M.N.A. but between the two brushes, carry current
downwards and those to the right carry current upwards. The armature
mmf is found to lie in the direction of the new position of M.N.A. (or
brush axis). The armature mmf is now represented by the vector OFA.
We find that:
(i) Component OFC is at right angles to the vector OFm
representing the main mmf It produces distortion in the main
field and is hence called the cross-magnetizing or distorting
component of the armature reaction.
(ii) The component OFd is in direct opposition of OFm which
represents the main mmf It exerts a demagnetizing influence
on the main pole flux. Hence, it is called the demagnetizing or
weakening component of the armature reaction. It should be
noted that both distorting and demagnetizing effects will
Demagnetizing and Cross-magnetizing
Conductors: All conductors lying within 
angles AOC = BOD = 2 at the top and
bottom of the armature, are carrying current in
such a direction as to send the flux through the
armature from right to left. It is these
conductors which act in direct opposition to
the main field and are hence called the
demagnetizing armature conductors.
Now consider the remaining armature conductors
lying between angles AOD and COB. These conductors
carry current in such a direction as to produce a flux at
right angles to the main flux. This results in distortion
of the main field. Hence, these conductors are known
as cross-magnetizing conductors and constitute
distorting ampere-conductors.
Since armature demagnetizing ampere-turns are
neutralized by adding extra ampere-turns to the main
field winding, it is essential to calculate their number.
But before proceeding further, it should be
remembered that the number of turns is equal to half
the number of conductors because two conductors-
constitute one turn.
Example-1: A 4-pole generator has a wave-wound armature with 722
conductors, and it delivers 100 A on full load. If the brush lead is 8°, calculate
the armature demagnetizing and cross-magnetizing ampere turns per pole.
Example-2: An 8-pole generator has an output of 200 A at 500 V, the lap-
connected armature has 1280 conductors, 160 commutator segments. If the
brushes are advanced 4-segments from the no-load neutral axis, estimate the
armature demagnetizing and cross-magnetizing ampere-turns per pole.

Example-3: A 4-pole wave-wound motor armature has 880 conductors and delivers
120 A. The brushes have been displaced through 3 angular degrees from the
geometrical axis. Calculate (a) demagnetizing amp-turns/pole (b) cross- magnetizing
amp-turns/pole (c) the additional field current for neutralizing the demagnetization
of the field winding has 1100 turns/pole.
Example-4: A 4-pole generator supplies a current of 143 A. It has 492
armature conductors (a) wave-wound (b) lap-wound. When delivering full
load, the brushes are given an actual lead of 10°. Calculate the
demagnetizing amp-turns/pole. This field winding is shunt connected and
takes 10 A. Find the number of extra shunt field turns necessary to
neutralize this demagnetization.
Example-5: A 4-pole, 50-kW, 250-V wave-wound shunt generator
has 400 armature conductors. Brushes are given a lead of 4
commutator segments. Calculate the demagnetization
amp-turns/pole if shunt field resistance is 50 Ω. Also, calculate extra
shunt field turns/pole to neutralize the demagnetization.
Compensating Windings:
These are used for large direct current machines which
are subjected to large fluctuations in load. Their function
is to neutralize the cross magnetizing effect of armature
reaction. In the absence of compensating windings, the
flux will be suddenly shifting backward and forward with
every change in load. This shifting of flux will induce
statically induced emf in the armature coils. The
magnitude of this emf will depend upon the rapidity of
changes in load and the amount of change. It may be so
high as to strike an arc between the consecutive
commutator segments across the top of the mica sheets
separating them. These windings are embedded in slots in
the pole shoes and are connected in series with armature
in such a way that the current in them flows in opposite
direction to that flowing in armature conductors directly
below the pole shoes.
Compensating winding connection:
Commutation:
The currents induced in armature conductors of a d.c. generator
are alternating. These currents flow in one direction when
armature conductors are under N-pole and in the opposite
direction when they are under S-pole. As conductors pass out of
the influence of a N-pole and enter that of S-pole, the current in
them is reversed. This reversal of current takes place along
magnetic neutral axis or brush axis i.e. when the brush spans
and hence short circuits that particular coil undergoing reversal
of current through it. This process by which current in the short-
circuited coil is reversed while it crosses the M.N.A. is called
commutation. The brief period during which coil remains short-
circuited is known as commutation period Tc. If the current
reversal i.e. the change from + I to zero and then to −I is
completed by the end of short circuit or commutation period,
then the commutation is ideal. If current reversal is not complete
by that time, then sparking is produced between the brush and
the commutator which results in progressive damage to both.
The brush width is equal to the width of one commutator
Prior to the beginning of short circuit, coil B belongs to the group
of coils lying to the left of the brush and carries 20 A from left to
right. In Fig (b) the current through coil B has reduced down from
20 A to 10 A. As area of contact of the brush is more with segment
‘b’ than with segment ‘a’, it receives 30 A from the former, the total
again being 40 A. Fig (c) shows the coil B in the middle of its short-
circuit period, the brush contact areas with the two segments ‘b’
and ‘a’ are equal. The current through it has decreased to zero. The
two currents of value 20 A each, pass to the brush directly from coil
A and C.
In Fig (d), coil B has become part of the group of coils lying to the
right of the brush. Coil B now carries 10 A in the reverse direction
which combines with 20 A supplied by coil A to make up 30 A that
passes from segment ‘a’ to the brush. The other 10 A is supplied by
coil C and passes from segment ‘b’ to the brush, again giving a total
of 40 A at the brush. Fig (e) depicts the moment when coil B is
almost at the end of commutation or short circuit period. For ideal
commutation, current through it should have reversed but it is
carrying 15 A only instead of 20 A. If the current varies at a uniform
rate i.e. if BC is a straight line, then it is referred to as linear
commutation. However, due to the production of self-induced emf in
the coil the variations follow the dotted curve. It is seen that, in that
case, current in coil B has reached only a value of KF = 15 A in the
reversed direction, hence the difference of 5 A (20-15 A) passes as a
spark. So, we conclude that sparking at the brushes, which results
in poor commutation is due to the inability of the current in the
short-circuited coil to reverse completely by the end of short-circuit
period (which is usually of the order of 1/500 second). The main
cause which retards or delays this quick reversal is the production
of self-induced emf in the coil undergoing commutation. It may be
pointed out that the coil possesses appreciable amount of self
Methods of Improving Commutation:
There are two practical ways of improving
commutation i.e. of making current reversal in
the short-circuited coil as sparkles as possible.
These methods are known as:

(i) resistance commutation.

(ii) emf commutation (which is done with the
help of either brush lead or interpoles,
usually the later).
Resistance Commutation: This method of improving
commutation consists of replacing low-resistance Cu brushes by
comparatively high-resistance carbon brushes. When current I
from coil C reaches the commutator segment b, it has two
parallel paths open to it. The first part is straight from bar ‘b’ to
the brush and the other parallel path is via the short-circuited
coil B to bar ‘a’ and then to the brush. If the Cu brushes are
used, then there is no inducement for the current to follow the
second longer path, it would preferably follow the first path. But
when carbon brushes having high resistance are used, then
current I coming from C will prefer to pass through the second
path. The additional advantages of carbon brushes are that (i)
they are to some degree self lubricating and polish the
commutator and (ii) should sparking occur, they would damage
the commutator less than when Cu brushes are used. But some
of their minor disadvantages are: (i) Due to their high contact
resistance (which is beneficial to sparkles commutation) a loss of
approximately 2 volt is caused. Hence, they are not much
suitable for small machines where this voltage forms an
appreciable percentage loss. (ii) Owing to this large loss, the
commutator has to be made some what larger than with Cu
EMF Commutation: In this method, arrangement is
made to neutralize the reactance voltage by producing a
reversing emf in the short-circuited coil under
commutation. This reversing emf, as the name shows, is
an emf in opposition to the reactance voltage and if its
value is made equal to the latter, it will completely wipe
it off, thereby producing quick reversal of current in the
short-circuited coil which will result in sparkles
commutation. The reversing emf may be produced in
two ways:
(i) Either by giving the brushes a forward lead sufficient
enough to bring the short-circuited coil under the
influence of next pole of opposite polarity or
(ii) By using interpoles.
The first method was used in the early machines but has
now been abandoned due to many other difficulties it
brings along with.
Interpoles : These are small poles fixed to the yoke and spaced in
between the main poles. They are wound with comparatively few
heavy gauge Cu wire turns and are connected in series with the
armature so that they carry full armature current. Their polarity, in
the case of a generator, is the same as that of the main pole ahead in
the direction of rotation. The function of interpoles are:
(i) As their polarity is the same as that of the main pole ahead, they
induce an emf in the coil (under commutation) which helps the
reversal of current. The emf induced by the interpole is known as
commutating or reversing emf. The commutating emf neutralizes the
reactance emf thereby making commutation sparkles. With
interpoles, sparkles commutation can be obtained up to 20 to 30%
overload with fixed brush position. In fact, interpoles raise sparking
limit of a machine to almost the same value as heating limit. Hence,
for a given output, an interpole machine can be made smaller and,
therefore, cheaper than a non-interpolar machine. As interpoles
carry armature current, their commutating emf is proportional to the
armature current. This ensures automatic neutralization of
reactance voltage which is also due to armature current.
(ii) Another function of the interpoles is to neutralize the cross-