Understanding Back EMF: How It Affects Motor Performance and Power Consumption"

In summary, understanding back emf can be difficult, but it is an important concept in understanding the behavior of DC motors. Back emf is essentially a voltage generated in the opposite direction of the applied voltage due to the motor's rotation, and it plays a role in regulating the current and speed of the motor. By understanding the relationship between back emf, voltage, and current, one can better understand how a DC motor functions.
  • #1
Dash-IQ
108
1
I need help in understanding back emf, I'm a bit confused here.


Example(for understanding):

Let's assume we have a 12 V DC motor, that draws 20Amps when it starts, as it reaches maximum speeds, current drops due to back emf, let's assume the resistance is 0.6 ohms, and b.emf = 10V.
Vtot = 2V ,from ohms law I can find the current at maximum speed, it would now be I = V/R = 3.3Amps

Now what about power?
Initial power = 240W
Power at max rpm = 6.6W?


Will the motor be stable at 2V at maximum speeds? Or will it draw more voltage because of the b.emf and stay the same rate of power @ 240W with lower current? (here is where I'm struggling).

If everything above correct?
 
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  • #2
A motor does not "draw" voltage. There is 12V across the motor at all times.

The 0.6 ohms represents 6.6W lost as heat in the motor windings. The motor is drawing 3.3A @ 12V which is 39.6 watts. The difference 39.6-6.6 = 33Watts of power delivered to the load (ignoring other motor losses).

When it starts @ 20 amps it is producing high torque and delivering a lot of power to accelerate the load. You can do the numbers.
 
  • #3
meBigGuy said:
The 0.6 ohms represents 6.6W lost as heat in the motor windings. The motor is drawing 3.3A @ 12V which is 39.6 watts. The difference 39.6-6.6 = 33Watts of power delivered to the load (ignoring other motor losses).
When it starts @ 20 amps it is producing high torque and delivering a lot of power to accelerate the load. You can do the numbers.

I'm trying to understand the idea to relate the numbers and make sense out of them. How is it still running @ 12 V when there is - 10 V shouldn't be 2V?
Please explain.
 
  • #4
Dash-IQ said:
I'm trying to understand the idea to relate the numbers and make sense out of them. How is it still running @ 12 V when there is - 10 V shouldn't be 2V?
Please explain.
What is the electrical model you are using to represent the DC motor? Attach a sketch of the model and describe the purpose of each element in the model.
 
  • #5
meBigGuy said:
When it starts @ 20 amps it is producing high torque and delivering a lot of power to accelerate the load. You can do the numbers.

That is a bit confusing. When the motor starts (at zero RPM) the mechanical power output is zero. It is producing a torque, of course, but the torque doesn't do any mechanical work, or produce any mechanical power, until the motor starts to turn.

At zero RPM, all the electrical power (I2R) is converted into heat in the windings.
 
  • #6
Sorry about that --- at zero speed there is no power output. Just torque.

You can think of a dc motor as having a generator inside. When the motor is stalled the generator creates no voltage so the motor draws the maximum current as limited by its internal resistance.

When the motor is running UNLOADED at maximum speed the internal generator creates maximum voltage which reduces the current the motor draws to the minimum. There is always 12V across the motor.

Say you had a perfect motor with no load. It would draw an infintesimal current. But, how can you limit the current draw from 12V to be an infintesimal current? The internal generator creates 12V, so no current is draw from the supply. If the speed goes down, the generator voltage reduces, so more current is drawn.

In your case the motor is drawing 12V x 3.3A = 39.6 Watts. 33W of that is doing work, the rest is dissipated in the internal resistance. If the motor is loaded down, it slows down a bit which causes the internal generator to produce less voltage which causes the current to increase to drive the load. It cannot get back to the same speed it was before the load was increased.

Don't get hung up on thinking about the 2 volts. Think rather about an internal generator based on speed (a speed dependent voltage source) that controls the current drawn from the supply. More current means more power delivered to the load, and also less speed (because the motor is loaded down) The system will always settle at the point where the speed and load are balanced.
 
  • #7
The example I used is random from my head, I have no specific model to study in detail.
I just wanted to understand back emf more.
 
  • #9
Dash-IQ said:
The example I used is random from my head, I have no specific model to study in detail.
I just wanted to understand back emf more.

I find this almost impossible to describe without images.

In a simplified dc motor:

dcmfor.gif


and given your initial parameters:
12 vdc
10 amps​

We can see that we can't really solve the equation: F=ILB
F being the force on the wire in Newtons
I being current in amps
L being length in meters, of the motor winding perpendicular to the flux field
B being the flux field strength in tesla
But one thing we can tell is that the motor is going to start rotating.

There is another equation: emf = vBL sin θ (ref)
which describes what happens when a conductor is pushed through a magnetic field.

emf being the voltage generated
v being the velocity of the conductor through the magnetic field
B & L were defined above
sin θ being the angle of motion of the conductor in relation to the magnetic field​

Now in the illustration that Hyperphysics has graciously provided, the angle θ changes constantly. But in real world dc motors, there are multiple loops of wire in the rotor, keeping the angle at relatively close to 90°. So the equation reduces to: emf = vBL

If you were to make up some numbers to to fill in the missing variables, you can actually calculate how fast your motor will run under no load, ideal textbook conditions, which would be when your emf generated, equaled the voltage supplied.

If c-emf didn't exist, the implications of F=ILB, would be disastrous, for an unloaded motor.

For F=ma, and if the current didn't reduce because of the c-emf, the motor would accelerate, until it disintegrated.
 
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  • #10
Nice Job OM !


One can empirically arrive at these two formulas for a DC machine, it's just lumping the constants together:

Counter EMF = K X (flux) X RPM, where [K X (flux)] is usually written K[itex]\Phi[/itex],
giving
Counter EMF = K[itex]\Phi[/itex]RPM ,

[itex]\Phi[/itex] of course is flux,
K encompasses pi and radius to get from RPM to velocity, and length L too.
Drive the motor at some speed and measure the open circuit voltage it makes, you have K[itex]\Phi[/itex]

Torque = same K[itex]\Phi[/itex] X Armature Current X 7.04 , gives foot-pounds

As OM said - with no counter EMF , ie motor stalled, armature current goes sky high and torque is dramatic. Your automobile starter is a good example .

It's a beautifully self regulating system. As RPM comes up so does counter-emf, reducing current.
Continuing to raise RPM (by driving the motor with something), counter-emf overwhelms applied voltage so current reverses and you have a generator.
 
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  • #11
jim hardy said:
Nice Job OM !
Please don't encourage me. :-p
As OM said - with no counter EMF , ie motor stalled
The OP may not know what "stalled" means, in the context of electric motors.
"Stalled", in this context, means the motor is not allowed to turn.
We referred to this as "locked rotor", back in my day.
, armature current goes sky high and torque is dramatic.
Which is actually a good thing. If you don't lock the rotor, something will happen.
Your automobile starter is a good example .
It's been awhile, but I believe that's an example of a series wound electric motor, which is another subject. Let's just leave that alone for a while.
It's a beautifully self regulating system.
That, I cannot argue with.

On the submarine I sailed around on, they had what was called a "motor-generator".

As RPM comes up so does counter-emf, reducing current.
Continuing to raise RPM (by driving the motor with something), counter-emf overwhelms applied voltage so current reverses and you have a generator.

At idle, neither end of the machine drew much current. All thanks to "counter" or "back" emf.
 
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  • #12
OmCheeto said:
I find this almost impossible to describe without images.

In a simplified dc motor:

dcmfor.gif


and given your initial parameters:
12 vdc
10 amps​

We can see that we can't really solve the equation: F=ILB
F being the force on the wire in Newtons
I being current in amps
L being length in meters, of the motor winding perpendicular to the flux field
B being the flux field strength in tesla
But one thing we can tell is that the motor is going to start rotating.

There is another equation: emf = vBL sin θ (ref)
which describes what happens when a conductor is pushed through a magnetic field.

emf being the voltage generated
v being the velocity of the conductor through the magnetic field
B & L were defined above
sin θ being the angle of motion of the conductor in relation to the magnetic field​

Now in the illustration that Hyperphysics has graciously provided, the angle θ changes constantly. But in real world dc motors, there are multiple loops of wire in the rotor, keeping the angle at relatively close to 90°. So the equation reduces to: emf = vBL

If you were to make up some numbers to to fill in the missing variables, you can actually calculate how fast your motor will run under no load, ideal textbook conditions, which would be when your emf generated, equaled the voltage supplied.

If c-emf didn't exist, the implications of F=ILB, would be disastrous, for an unloaded motor.

For F=ma, and if the current didn't reduce because of the c-emf, the motor would accelerate, until it disintegrated.

jim hardy said:
Nice Job OM !


One can empirically arrive at these two formulas for a DC machine, it's just lumping the constants together:

Counter EMF = K X (flux) X RPM, where [K X (flux)] is usually written K[itex]\Phi[/itex],
giving
Counter EMF = K[itex]\Phi[/itex]RPM ,

[itex]\Phi[/itex] of course is flux,
K encompasses pi and radius to get from RPM to velocity, and length L too.
Drive the motor at some speed and measure the open circuit voltage it makes, you have K[itex]\Phi[/itex]

Torque = same K[itex]\Phi[/itex] X Armature Current X 7.04 , gives foot-pounds

As OM said - with no counter EMF , ie motor stalled, armature current goes sky high and torque is dramatic. Your automobile starter is a good example .

It's a beautifully self regulating system. As RPM comes up so does counter-emf, reducing current.
Continuing to raise RPM (by driving the motor with something), counter-emf overwhelms applied voltage so current reverses and you have a generator.

Both wonderful and useful answers thank you.
 

FAQ: Understanding Back EMF: How It Affects Motor Performance and Power Consumption"

What is back EMF?

Back EMF, or back electromotive force, is the voltage that is generated in an electric circuit due to changes in the magnetic field. This is often seen in motors and generators, where the changing magnetic field can induce a voltage in the opposite direction of the current flow.

How does back EMF affect motors?

Back EMF can actually help regulate the speed and torque of a motor. As the motor starts to spin, the back EMF increases, which in turn reduces the current flow and prevents the motor from spinning too fast. This helps prevent damage to the motor and also allows for more precise control of its speed and movement.

Why is back EMF important to know about?

Understanding back EMF is important in designing and operating electrical systems. It can help prevent damage to motors and other electrical components, as well as optimize their performance. It is also a key concept in the study of electromagnetism and the principles of electricity.

Can back EMF be eliminated?

No, back EMF cannot be completely eliminated in electric circuits. However, it can be controlled and minimized through the use of diodes, capacitors, and other electronic components. These can help absorb and redirect the back EMF, reducing its impact on the circuit.

How is back EMF related to Lenz's Law?

Lenz's Law states that the direction of an induced current in a circuit will be opposite to the change in magnetic flux that caused it. This is directly related to back EMF, as the changing magnetic field is what induces the voltage in the opposite direction of the current flow. Lenz's Law helps explain why back EMF occurs and how it affects electrical systems.

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