# DC Generator Characteristics

- Link: https://studyelectrical.com/2014/08/dc-generator-characteristics.html
- Published: 2014-08-07T16:12:00+00:00
- Author: 

**DC generator characteristics** are the relations between excitation, terminal 
voltage and load exhibited graphically by means of curves. These **characteristics****
of dc generators** are very important in the design and operation of dc generators.
This article describes the different **characteristics of a dc generator** in brief.

One question comes into our mind is that why the **DC generator characteristics**
are plotted between excitation, terminal voltage, and load. Here is the answer.

The speed of a dc machine operated as a generator is fixed by the prime mover to
which the dc generator is coupled. The prime mover may be a turbine or diesel engine
etc. The prime mover is equipped with a speed governor so that the speed of the 
generator is practically constant. 

So the speed is practically constant for a generator, then the generator performance
mainly deals with the relation between _**excitation, terminal voltage, and load**_.

These relations can be best exhibited graphically by means of curves known as **
dc generator characteristics**. These **characteristics of a dc generator** show
the behavior of the generator under different load conditions.

## DC Generator Characteristics

The three most important **characteristics of a dc generator** are given below

 * **_Magnetic or Open Circuit Characteristic (O.C.C.)_** – This curve shows the
   relation between the generated e.m.f. at no-load (E_(0)) and the field current(
   I_(f)) at a constant speed.
 * **_Internal or Total characteristic (E/I_(a))_**– This curve shows the relation
   between the generated e.m.f. on load (E) and the armature current (I_(a)).
 * **_External characteristic (V/I_(L))_** – This curve shows the relation between
   the terminal voltage (V) and load current (I_(L)).

For a self-excited or separately excited DC generator, all the above three **dc 
generator characteristics** can be drawn. Of these characteristics, the shape of
open circuit characteristic (OCC) is practically the same for all type dc generators.

Next, we are going to discuss the **characteristics of all types of dc generators**
as given below:

 * [Characteristics of Separately Excited DC Generators](http://www.studyelectrical.com/2014/08/characteristics-of-separately-excited-dc-generator.html)
 * [Characteristics of Series Wound DC Generators](http://www.studyelectrical.com/2014/08/characteristics-of-series-wound-dc-generator.html)
 * [Characteristics of Shunt Wound DC Generators](http://www.studyelectrical.com/2014/08/characteristics-of-shunt-generator.html)
 * [Characteristics of Compound Wound DC Generators](http://www.studyelectrical.com/2014/08/characteristics-of-dc-compound-generator.html)

Before going to these topics, we will discuss about the common characteristic of
all generators, that is the open circuit characteristics or magnetic characteristics.

### Open Circuit Characteristic

The Open Circuit Characteristic is one of the **dc generator characteristics** which
is practically same for all dc generators. The OCC of even self-excited dc generator
is obtained by running it as a separately excited generator. The procedure is explained
below,
  The field winding of the dc generator (series or shunt) is disconnected
from the machine and is separately excited from an external dc source as shown in
Figure (ii).

The generator is run at a fixed speed (i.e., normal speed). The field current (I_(
f)) is increased from zero in steps and the corresponding values of generated e.
m.f. (E_(0)) read off on a voltmeter connected across the armature terminals.

On plotting the relation between E_(0) and I_(f), we get the open circuit characteristic
as shown in Figure (i).

![occ-dc-generator](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2GVket-AHOQ/U-Mtg9xprGI/AAAAAAAABEc/
YnCVLnf4RFA/s1600/preview_file+(4).png "occ-dc-generator")

Open Circuit Characteristics

The following points may be noted from Open Circuit Characteristics:

 1. **When the field current is zero, there is some generated emf OA.**
 2.  * This is due to the residual magnetism in the field poles.
 3. **Over a fairly wide range of field current (up to point B in the curve), the curve
    is linear.**
 4.  * It is because, in this range, the reluctance of iron is negligible as compared
       with that of the air gap. The air gap reluctance is a constant and hence linear
       relationship.
 5. **After point B on the curve, the reluctance of iron also comes into the picture.**
 6.  * It is because, at higher flux densities, μ_(r) for iron decreases and the reluctance
       of iron is no longer negligible. Consequently, the curve deviates from the linear
       relationship.
 7. **After point C on the curve, the magnetic saturation of poles begins and E_(0)
    tends to level off.**

The Open Circuit Characteristic of even self-excited dc generator is obtained by
running it as a separately excited generator.

Next: Read the characteristics of all [types of dc generators](https://studyelectrical.com/2014/08/types-of-dc-generators.html)
given below:
 [Characteristics of Separately Excited DC Generators](https://studyelectrical.com/2014/08/characteristics-of-separately-excited-dc-generator.html)
[Characteristics of Series Wound DC Generators](https://studyelectrical.com/2014/08/characteristics-of-series-wound-dc-generator.html)
[Characteristics of Shunt Wound DC Generators](https://studyelectrical.com/2014/08/characteristics-of-shunt-generator.html)
[Characteristics of Compound Wound DC Generators](https://studyelectrical.com/2014/08/characteristics-of-dc-compound-generator.html)

 

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