The thesis Is concerned with the development of a separately excited DC machine In which gate turn-off thyristor devices with their associated firing and protective circuits are used to provide the static commutation of armature coil current. The developed machine has Its armature winding with 24 tapping points located on the stator and Interconnected In "Lop" configuration. The Initiation of the conduction periods of armature switching devices Is defined by a digital control logic circuit. In conjunction with an Incremental rotary encoder which provides the necessary feedback Information relating to shaft speed and shaft angular position. This Is arranged such that, under normal running conditions of the machine, the axis of the radial field of the armature winding maintains the normal space-quadrature relationship with that of the main field winding, giving the optimal torque angle of 000. Provision Is made, however, within the digital control circuit for controlled departure of the armature switch tapping points from the quadrature axis positions, and the effect of this, In Improving commutation Is Investigated. The effect of Interpoles Is also explored. On the basis of the analysis carried out, a proposal Is made for the future development of the machine employing a reduced number of armature switching devices without the need for Interpole windings. / Electricity Directorate, Ministry of Works, Power and Water, Manama, Bahrain.

The thesis Is concerned with the development of a separately excited DC machine In which gate turn-off thyristor devices with their associated firing and protective circuits are used to provide the static commutation of armature coil current. The developed machine has Its armature winding with 24 tapping points located on the stator and Interconnected In "Lop" configuration. The Initiation of the conduction periods of armature switching devices Is defined by a digital control logic circuit. In conjunction with an Incremental rotary encoder which provides the necessary feedback Information relating to shaft speed and shaft angular position. This Is arranged such that, under normal running conditions of the machine, the axis of the radial field of the armature winding maintains the normal space-quadrature relationship with that of the main field winding, giving the optimal torque angle of 000. Provision Is made, however, within the digital control circuit for controlled departure of the armature switch tapping points from the quadrature axis positions, and the effect of this, In Improving commutation Is Investigated. The effect of Interpoles Is also explored. On the basis of the analysis carried out, a proposal Is made for the future development of the machine employing a reduced number of armature switching devices without the need for Interpole windings.