An Electric DC motor is a machine which converts electric energy into mechanical energy. The working of DC motor is based on the principle that when a current carrying conductor is placed in a magnetic field, it experiences a mechanical force.
The direction of the mechanical force is given by Fleming’s Left-hand Rule and its magnitude is given by F = BIL Newton.
Like generators, there are different types of DC motors which are also classified into shunt-wound, series-wound and compound-wound.DC motors are seldom used in ordinary applications because all electric supply companies furnish alternating current.
However, for special applications such as in steel mills, mines, and electric trains, it is advantageous to convert alternating current into direct current in order to use dc motors. The reason is that speed/torque characteristics of DC motors are much more superior to that of a.c. motors.
Therefore, it is not surprising to note that for industrial drives, DC motors are as popular as three phase induction motors.
DC Motor Principle
According to Flemings left-hand rule when an electric current passes through a coil in a magnetic field, the magnetic force produces a torque which turns the DC motor.
The direction of this force is perpendicular to both the wire and magnetic field.
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| Flemings Left Hand Rule |
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| DC Machine Construction |
Working of DC Motor
- the field magnets are excited developing alternate N and S poles
- the armature conductors carry currents.
All conductors under N-pole carry currents in one direction while all the conductors under S-pole carry currents in the opposite direction.
Since each armature conductor is carrying current and is placed in the magnetic field, a mechanical force acts on it.
On applying Fleming’s left-hand rule, it is clear that force on each conductor is tending to rotate the armature in the anticlockwise direction. All these forces add together to produce a driving torque which sets the armature rotating.
When the conductor moves from one side of a brush to the other, the current in that conductor is reversed and at the same time, it comes under the influence of next pole which is of opposite polarity. Consequently, the direction of the force on the conductor remains the same.
It should be noted that the function of a commutator in the motor is the same as in a generator. By reversing current in each conductor as it passes from one pole to another, it helps to develop a continuous and unidirectional torque.
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