ARMATURE REACTION

There are two windings in a dc generator

Field winding
The purpose of field winding is to produce magnetic field (called
main flux)
Armature winding
Although the armature winding is not provided for the purpose of
producing a magnetic field, still the current in the armature winding
also produces a magnetic flux (called armature flux).

ARMATURE REACTION
The effect of the magnetic field set up by armature current on the
distribution of the main filed flux is known as armature reaction.
The armature flux distorts and weakens the main flux and create
problems for the proper operation of the dc machines.

The phenomenon ofarmature reaction in a dc

generatoris shown in figure below:

Figure (i)

When the generator is on no- load, a small current is flowing through the
armature and therefore flux produced in the armature is very small and it
does not affect the main flux 1 coming from the pole.

When the generator is loaded, high current start flowing

through the armature conductors, thus a high flux 2 is set up
as shown in fig (ii).

By superimposing the fluxes 1 and 2, we obtain the resulting

flux 3 as shown in fig (iii). This is what happens to the flux
under one pole under armature reaction in a dc
generator. From fig (iii) it is clear that flux density at the
trailing pole tip (point B) is increased while at the leading pole
tip (point A) it is decreased.

The armature magnetic field has two effects:

1. Demagnetizing effect (weakens the main flux)
This leads to reduced generated voltage

2. Cross- magnetizing effect (distorts the main flux)

This leads to sparking at the brushes
Fig. 1: shows the flux distribution of the bipolar generator when there is
no current in the armature conductors.
is the magnitude and
Where OFf
direction of the main filed MMF.
The flux is distributed symmetrically
with respect to the polar axis, which
is the line joining the NS pole.
The magnetic neutral axis (MNA)
coincides with the Geometrical
Fig.1
neutral axis (GNA).

 MNA is defined as the axis along which there is no EMF

induced in the armature conductors because they move
parallel to the lines of flux.
(MNA is the axis perpendicular to the flux passing through
the
armature)
Brushes are always placed along the MNA
Hence MNA is also called axis of commutation because
current reversal process takes place at this axis.
GNA may be defined as the axis which is perpendicular to
the stator field axis.

Now, when the machine is connected to the load ,there is

a flow of current in the armature conductors.
As we know that any current carrying conductor produces
its own flux, in this case the armature conductors sets up
its own flux.

The direction of the armature

This is as shown below in fig.2
current is same as it would be
when the generator is loaded.
It may even be found by
applying Flemings Right Hand
Rule.
The
current
direction
is
downwards
for
conductors
under the influence of north
Fig. 2
pole.
The
current
direction
is
upwards for conductors under
X

 Now, in case the machine is running, then both the fluxes

(flux due to the armature conductors and flux due to the
field winding) will be present at a time. The armature flux
superimposes with the main field flux and, hence, disturbs
the main field flux. This effect is called as armature
reaction in DC machines.
It can be seen that the flux in the
armature is no longer uniform and
symmetrical about the axis, rather it
is distorted.
The flux is crowded at the trailing pole
tip and weakened at the leading pole
tip.
The resultant m.m.f. OF which is
found by combining OFf and OFA.
The new position of the MNA is always
the position of the resultant m.m.f.

 Since the MNA has shifted by an angle , brushes are

also shifted so as lie along the new position of MNA.
Due to this brush shift the armature conductors and the
armature current is redistributed.

Demagnetising and cross magnetising conductors

The exact conductors which produce these distorting
and demagnetising effects are shown in Fig.

 All conductors lying within anglesAOC=BOD= 2q at

the top and bottom of the armature, are carrying
current in such a direction as to send the
fluxthroughthe armature from right to left.
This fact may be checked by applying crockscrew rule. It
is these conductors which act in direct opposition to the
main field and are hence called the demagnetising
armature conductors.