# Back EMF and Its Significance in DC Motor

- Link: https://studyelectrical.com/2015/02/back-emf-and-significance-in-dc-motor.html
- Published: 2015-02-06T06:59:00+00:00

## What is Back EMF?

When the armature of a DC motor rotates under the influence of the driving torque,
the armature conductors move through the magnetic field and hence [emf](http://www.studyelectrical.com/2017/04/electric-potential--difference-and-emf.html)
is induced in them as in a generator. 

The induced emf acts in opposite direction to the applied voltage  V (Lenz’s law)
and is known as **Back EMF or Counter EMF (Eb). **

The equation to find out back emf in a DC motor is given below,

⌊back%2Bemf⌉⌊back%2Bemf⌉The **back emf** Eb(= PΦZN/60 A) is always less than the
applied voltage V, although this difference is small when the motor is running under
normal conditions.

[Voltage and Power Equations of DC Motor](http://www.studyelectrical.com/2018/01/voltage-and-power-equations-of-dc-motor-maximum-power-condition.html)

[Working Principle of DC Motor](http://www.studyelectrical.com/2014/12/working-principle-of-dc-motor.html)

## How Back EMF Occur in DC Motor

In this section, we will understand how back emf occur in DC motor. For better understanding
please read [Working of DC Motor](http://www.studyelectrical.com/2014/12/working-principle-of-dc-motor.html)
before continuing.

 Consider a shunt wound dc motor as shown in the figure below. 

[⌊Untitled⌉⌊Untitled⌉[

Shunt Wound DC Motor

When dc voltage V is applied across the motor terminals, the field magnets are excited
and armature conductors are supplied with current. 
  Therefore, driving torque 
acts on the armature which begins to rotate. As the armature rotates, **back emf**
Eb is induced which opposes the applied voltage V.   The applied voltage V has to
force current through the armature against the **back emf** Eb.   The electric work
done in overcoming and causing the current to flow against Eb is converted into 
mechanical energy developed in the armature.   It follows, therefore, that energy
conversion in a dc motor is only possible due to the production of **back emf** 
Eb.

Net voltage across armature circuit = V – Eb

If Ra is the armature circuit resistance, then, Ia = (V – Eb)/Ra

Since V and Ra are usually fixed, the value of Eb will determine the current drawn
by the motor. 
  If the speed of the motor is high, then back e.m.f. **Eb (= P****
φ****ZN/60 A)** is large and hence the motor will draw less armature current and
vice-versa.

## The significance of Back EMF

Back emf is very significant in the working of a dc motor.

**The presence of back emf makes the d.c. motor a _self-regulating machine_** i.
e., it makes the motor to draw as much armature current as is just sufficient to
develop the torque required by the load.

Armature current (Ia), 

![Armature%2Bcurrent%2Bin%2Bdc%2Bmotor%2BIa](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RlYpJjnCK0k/
WohlYaseWII/AAAAAAAACbo/qiy99kSyGx0rW3gw5Q7otFwI7ci6BNR-QCLcBGAs/s1600/Armature%
2Bcurrent%2Bin%2Bdc%2Bmotor%2BIa.png)

**When the motor is running on no load**, small torque is required to overcome the
friction and windage losses. Therefore, the armature current Ia is small and the**
back emf** is nearly equal to the applied voltage.

**If the motor is suddenly loaded**, the first effect is to cause the armature to
slow down. Therefore, the speed at which the armature conductors move through the
field is reduced and hence the **back emf** Eb falls. 

The decreased **back emf** allows a larger current to flow through the armature 
and larger current means increased driving torque.

Thus, the driving torque increases as the motor slows down. The motor will stop 
slowing down when the armature current is just sufficient to produce the increased
torque required by the load.

**If the load on the motor is decreased**, the driving torque is momentarily in 
excess of the requirement so that armature is accelerated.

As the armature speed increases, the **back emf** Eb also increases and causes the
armature current Ia to decrease. The motor will stop accelerating when the armature
current is just sufficient to produce the reduced torque required by the load.

Therefore, the **back emf** in a DC motor regulates the flow of armature current
i.e., it automatically changes the armature current to meet the load requirement.

> Find more articles related to [DC Motor](https://studyelectrical.com/dc-motor)

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