Faculty of Engineering

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department

LAB: Electrical Power and Machine Laboratory

Practical: Torque-Speed Characteristics of DC
Compound Motor
Introduction
A compound wound DC motor (also known as a DC compound motor) is a type of self-excited
motor, and is made up of both series the field coils S1 S2 and shunt field coils F1 F2connected to
the armature winding as shown in the figure below.

Both the field coils provide for the required amount of magnetic flux, that links with the
armature coil and brings about the torque necessary to facilitate rotation at the desired speed.
As we can understand, a compound wound DC motor is basically formed by the amalgamation
of a shunt wound DC motor and series wound DC motor to achieve the better off properties of
both these types. Like a shunt wound DC motor is bestowed with an extremely efficient speed
regulation characteristic, whereas the DC series motor has high starting torque.
So the compound wound DC motor reaches a compromise in terms of both these features and
has a good combination of proper speed regulation and high starting torque.

Though its starting torque is not as high as in case of DC motor, nor is its speed regulation as
good as a shunt DC motor. Overall characteristics of DC shunt motor falls somewhere in
between these 2 extreme limits. You can learn more about motors by studying our electrical
MCQs.

1) Long shunt compound wound DC motor

In case of long shunt compound wound DC motor, the shunt field winding is connected
in parallel across the series combination of both the armature and series field coil, as
shown in the diagram below.

Shunt field current is given as

Series field current is given as

Terminal voltage is given as

2. Short shunt compound wound DC motor

In a Short Shunt Compound Wound Generator, the shunt field winding is connected in parallel
with the armature winding only. The connection diagram of short shunt wound generator is
shown below.
Short Shunt Compound Wound Generator

Series field current is given as

Shunt field current is given as

Terminal voltage is given as

mxcmx
dsmw

Methodology
Procedure
Part 1

Torque-Speed Characteristic of a Compound DC Motor Long Compound Connection

1. Connect the motor in the long compound connection configuration.

2. Couple the motor to a brake generator.

3. Gradually adjust output of the DC power supply to the rated voltage of the motor 220V.

4. When the motor has reached rated speed, gradually increase the voltage in the excitation field of the
brake generator.

5. Slowly increase until voltage across the armature of the brake generator reaches 220V.

6. 220V is the rated voltage of the brake resistor connected to the brake generator armature.

7. Increase the load resistor in steps and note the speed.

8. After completing the experiment switch off the power supply.

9. Plot a graph of torque vs. speed.

torque (Nm) speed (rpm) Resistance level

0 2908 0
0.14 2821 1
0.27 2755 2
0.39 2702 3
0.49 2650 4
0.6 2585 5

Table 1: long shunt DC motor

Graph 1
Torque vs speed

graph of torque against speed

0.7

0.6

0.5
torque/ Nm

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
2550 2600 2650 2700 2750 2800 2850 2900 2950
speed/ rpm

Part 2
Torque-Speed Characteristic of a Compound DC Motor Short Compound Connection.

1. Connect the motor in the short compound connection configuration.

2. Repeat the steps (2-9) mentioned in part 1.

speed (rpm) torque (Nm) Resistance level

2950 0 0
2863 0.14 1
2792 0.27 2
2721 0.4 3
2664 0.49 4
2606 0.61 5

Table 2: Short run DC motor

graph of torque against speed

0.7

0.6

0.5
torque/ Nm

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
2550 2600 2650 2700 2750 2800 2850 2900 2950 3000
speed/ rpm

The relationship between the two parameters is a straight line with a negative gradient. We
can confirm that the results obtained on the graphs are valid. As per the mathematical
equations of DC motor which are:

Now we merge the two equations to get the relationship.

1
𝜏𝑖𝑛𝑑 = 𝐸𝑎 𝐼𝑎 ×
𝜔𝑎
 Y = m X
This shows that the torque is inversely proportional to the speed of the motor. This is valid for
both cases.

Conclusion
1. The torque-speed characteristics of a DC compound motor describes the relationship between the
rotational speeds of a DC compound motor with the torque produced to turn a load.

2. From the curve, it can be concluded that the speed of the motor is inversely proportional to the
torque produced.