Basic Electrical Engineering

Emf Equation

EMF Equation:Consider a D.C generator whose field coil is excited to produce a flux density distribution along the air gap and the armature is driven by a prime mover at constant speed as shown in figure (A).

fig(A)Pole pitch & area on armature surface per pole.

Let us assume a p polar d.c generator is driven (by a prime mover) at n rps. The excitation of the stator field is such that it produces a φ Wb flux per pole. Also let z be the total number of armature conductors and a be the number of parallel paths in the armature circuit. In general, as discussed in the earlier section the magnitude of the voltage from one conductor to another is likely to very since flux density distribution is trapezoidal in nature. Therefore, total average voltage across the brushes is calculated on the basis of average flux density Bav. If D and L are the rotor diameter and the length of the machine in meters then area under each pole is (πD/p)L. Hence average flux density in the gap is given by

We thus see that across the armature a voltage will be generated so long there exists some flux per pole and the machine runs with some speed. Therefore irrespective of the fact that the machine is operating as generator or as motor, armature has an induced voltage in it governed essentially by the above derived equation. This emf is called back emf for motor operation.