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Chapter: Electrical machines : Magnetic Circuits and Magnetic Materials

Iron or Core losses

These losses occur in the armature of a d.c. machine and are due to the rotation of armature in the magnetic field of the poles. They are of two types (i) hysteresis loss (ii) eddy current loss.

Iron or Core losses

 

These losses occur in the armature of a d.c. machine and are due to the rotation of armature in the magnetic field of the poles.

 

They are of two types

(i)                         hysteresis loss

(ii)                       eddy current loss.

 

1. Hysteresis loss

 

Hysteresis loss occurs in the armature of the d.c. machine since any given part of the armature is subjected to magnetic field reversals as it passes under successive poles. Figure. (1.36) shows an armature rotating in two-pole machine. Consider a small piece ab of the armature. When the piece ab is under N-pole, the magnetic lines pass from a to b. Half arevolution later, the same piece of iron is under S-pole and magnetic lines pass from b to a so that magnetism in the iron is reversed. In order to reverse continuously the molecular magnets in the armature core, some amount of power has to be spent which is called hysteresis loss. It is given by Steinmetz formula. This

 

formula is Hysteresis loss, Ph=B16maxfV watts

 

where Bmax = Maximum flux density in armature f = Frequency of magnetic reversals

V = Volume of armature in m3

h = Steinmetz hysteresis co-efficient


In order to reduce this loss in a d.c. machine, armature core is made of such materials which have a low value of Steinmetz hysteresis co-efficient e.g., silicon steel.

 

2. Eddy current loss

 

In addition to the voltages induced in the armature conductors, there are also voltages induced in the armature core. These voltages produce circulating currents in the armature core as shown in Figure. (1.37). These are called eddy currents and power loss due to their flow is called eddy current loss. The eddy current loss appears as heat which raises the temperature of the machine and lowers its efficiency. If a continuous solid iron core is used, the resistance to eddy current path will be small due to large cross-sectional area of the core. Consequently, the magnitude of eddy current and hence eddy current loss will be large. The magnitude of eddy current can be reduced by making core resistance as high as practical. The core resistance can be greatly increased by constructing the core of thin, round iron sheets called laminations. The laminations are insulated from each other with a coating of varnish. The insulating coating has a high resistance, so very little current flows from one lamination to the other. Also, because each lamination is very thin, the resistance to current flowing through the width of a lamination is also quite large. Thus laminating a core increases the core resistance which decreases the eddy current and hence the eddy current loss.

 

Eddy current loss, Pe = KeB2maxf2t2V watts where ,

 

Ke = Constant

 

Bmax = Maximum flux density in Wb/m2

f = Frequency of magnetic reversals in Hz

t = Thickness of lamination in m

V = Volume of core in m3


It may be noted that eddy current loss depends upon the square of lamination thickness. For this reason, lamination thickness should be kept as small as possible.

 

3. Mechanical losses

These losses are due to friction and windage.

 

(i)             friction loss e.g., bearing friction, brush friction etc.

(ii)          windage loss i.e., air friction of rotating armature.

 

These losses depend upon the speed of the machine. But for a given speed, they are practically constant.

 

Note. Iron losses and mechanical losses together are called stray losses

 

Eddy current

 

When the armature with conductors rotates in the magnetic field and cuts the magnetic lines, an emf will be induced in the conductors. As the armature is made of a metal and metal being a conductor, emf will be induced in that metal also and circulate the current called eddy current. These current produces some effects which can be utilized. This current are also called as Focault current. Methods of Minimizing Eddy current always tends to flow at the right angles to the direction of the flux, if the resistance of the path is increased by laminating the cores. The power loss can be reduced because the eddy current loss varies as the square of the thickness of the laminations.



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