Swinburne’s Test of DC Machines – Circuit and Applications

Electrical Technology

Swinburne’s Test of DC Motors & Generators – Circuit, Calculation, Advantages & Applications

Table of Contents

What is Swinburne’s Test?

Swinburne’s test (named after James Swinburne) is an indirect method of testing a DC shunt or DC compound motor. During this test, the motor is not loaded. Therefore, this method of testing is also known as No-load Test. The Swinburne’s test is very helpful for very large machines that cannot be tested on actual load. So, this method helps to determine the performance characteristics of large DC machines.

The Swinburne’s test is performed to calculate the losses and efficiency of the motor at any desired load. In this test, the DC machine operates as a motor running on no load. The excitation is given to the motor to operate on rated voltage and rated speed. The connection diagram of the Swinburne’s test is shown in the figure below.

Circuit Diagram

Performance

The connection diagram of the Swinburne’s test for the DC shunt motor is shown in the above figure. Here,

V = Supply Voltage
I₀ = No-load Current
I_Sh = Shunt field Current

In no-load condition, the current flows through the armature are;

I_a0 = I₀ – I_Sh

No-load Input power = V I₀

The no-load power is used to supply;

Iron loss in the core
Friction loss in commutator and bearings
Windage loss
Armature copper loss at no-load

When the machine is loaded, the temperature of the field winding and armature winding is increased. During this test, the resistance of both windings is measured using the voltmeter-ammeter method. And the temperature of a winding is at room temperature (let’s say ). Consider, when the machine is loaded, the temperature rise of winding is approximately 40-50˚ C.

So, we need to add a hot resistance to avoid temperature rise. The hot resistance allows a temperature rise of 40˚ C and the calculation is as follows;

For 40˚ C;

Where, α₀ = temperature coefficient of resistance at 0˚ C.

Now, the supply voltage (V) is measured by voltmeter V, motor input current (I₀) is measured by ammeter A₁, and the shunt field current (I_sh) is measured by ammeter A₂.

Here, the DC machine operates on a no-load. Hence, we can consider the mechanical loss as zero. And the input power is used to supply internal losses in a machine that includes; Shunt field copper loss, Armature copper loss, and Stray power loss in a shunt wound machine. In the case of a compound wound machine, it also includes series field copper loss.

Input power at no-load = V I₀ Watt

Shunt field copper loss = V I_Sh Watt

From the circuit diagram, the current passes through the armature I_a in the no-load condition is;

I_a0 = I₀ – I_Sh

So, the armature copper loss = I²_a0 R_a = (I₀ – I_Sh)² R_a (where R_a = hot resistance of armature)

Stray power loss, P_s = Input on no-load – Shunt field loss – armature copper loss

P_s = V I₀ – V I_Sh– (I₀ – I_Sh)² R_a

Constant losses, P_c = Ps + Shunt field copper loss

P_C = V I₀ – V I_Sh– (I₀ – I_Sh)² R_a + V I_Sh

P_C = V I₀ – (I₀ – I_Sh)² R_a

Related Post: Hopkinson’s Test: Circuit Diagram, Working and Applications

Efficiency Calculation

Efficiency of DC Machine When it is Running as a Motor

Assume;

Load current = I_L – Ampere

Load voltage = V – Volt

Total input power = V I_L – Watts

Total constant losses are the same as determined above;

Total constant losses = P_C = V I₀ – (I₀ – I_Sh)² R_a

Armature copper loss = (I₀ – I_Sh)² R_a

Total losses = P_T = P_C + (I₀ – I_Sh)² R_a = V I₀ – (I₀ – I_Sh)² R_a + (I₀ – I_Sh)² R_a

Output = Input – P_T = V I_L – P_T

For efficiency of a motor;

Efficiency of DC Machine When it is Running as a Generator

Let’s assume that, the generator supplies load current Amp at load voltage Volts.

Generator Output = V I_L – Watts

Armature copper loss = I_a²R_a

For generator; I_a = I_L + I_Sh

Therefore, Armature copper loss = (I_L + I_Sh)²R_a

Constant loss, P_C = V I₀ – (I₀ – I_Sh)² R_a

Therefore, Total losses in Generator, = P_T = P_C + (I_L + I_Sh)² R_a

P_T = V I₀ – (I₀ – I_Sh)² R_a + (I_L + I_Sh)² R_a

Input = Output + Total Losses

Input = V I_L + P_T

So, Generator efficiency,

Advantages and Disadvantages of Swinburne Test

Advantages

The advantages of the Swinburne’s test in DC machines are listed below.

For large-scale machines, it is not possible to arrange a large load to test this machine. As this test is done in no-load condition, it is suitable to perform testing in a laboratory without actual loading.
It requires less time to perform this test.
As we have not connected the full load, the input power is required only for losses. Hence, this test does not require much power.
Losses and efficiency of a machine are calculated for any load condition.
The energy loss that occurs during this test is very low. And hence, excessive heat is not produced during this test.
Through this test, DC shunt and compound wound machines are tested.

Disadvantages

The disadvantages of the Swinburne’s test are listed below.

There is no provision taken for a change in iron loss from no-load to full-load. The iron loss is not the same in both conditions because of the distribution of flux due to the armature reaction. The flux is much affected in full-load condition due to armature reaction. And in some conditions, the extent of iron loss is up to 1.5 times compared to the no-load condition.
As we are performing this test on no-load, we don’t have information about proper commutation and temperature rise in the full-load condition.
This test can be performed in a DC series motor. Because the DC series motor will rotate at dangerously high speed on no-load. So, it may damage the motor. And also, this test is suitable for machines in which the flux and speed remain constant. Therefore, this test is only applicable to the DC shunt and compound motors.