The rotary converter will continue synchronous running when the shunt field circuit is opened, so long as the reluctance of the magnetic circuit is reasonably low. The machine is then called the "reaction converter." As the reaction converter is excited solely by the longitudinal component of the armature reaction, it should be so constructed as the armature air gap may be so small that the mechanical construction may permit, in order to minimize the lagging component of alternating carrent and to improve power factor. It seems at first sight, that with such a small air gap, the machine can not be able to operate as a d.c. machine in view of commutation. In reality, however, such a machine, if properly designed, may operate favourably without commutation difficulties, as later shown.
It is a well known fact that the armature m.m.f. at the commutating zone of a converter is very small compared with that of an ordinary d.c. machine, the former being about 15 per cent. of the latter. put this figure is with machines of 100 per cent. efficiency and p.f., or of very large capacity, and it is still smaller with machines of small and medium siges, whose mechanical friction and iron losses can never be negligible; for example, in the 3K.W converter, quated in the paper, the m.m.f. in the commutating zone amounts to about +27 per cent. of the d.c. m.m.f. for full load and zero lead of d.c. brushes (+ sign of m.m.f shows the commutatating m.m.f.)
The power factor of the reaction converter, as in induction motors, improves with load, and the more rapidiy if proper negative load be given to d.c. brushes; in the latter case the longitudinal component of the d.c. armature reaction acts the magnetizing action and reduce the lagging part of a.c. current
Laggging of d.c. brushes hardly affect commutation, although the commutating field decreases in its positive value or reverses its direction. In such conditions, resistance commutation due to carbon brush contact may prove satisfactory commutation, as is shown in actual cases.
Reaction converters have the following specialities: cheap in cost, good efficiency and Power factor, simplicity in construction and starting, smaller floor space.
Reaction converters of series type present still better characteristics than ordinary ones in many respects, and also be able to be used as series traction motors in battery cars and tractors, which operate as battery chargers with no alternation.
For larber capacities and heavy current types, in which commutation difficulties are expected to occur, reaction converters should be supplied with commutating poles, the ampere-turns of which are very small compared with the cases of ordinary converters.
In the present paper, the actual test results of the following reaction converters are given:
(i) 3K.W., D.C. 60V, 50A, A.C. 45V. 50-, 3phase, 4pole 1500r.p.m.,
(ii) 2.5K.W., D, C. 150V, 167A, A.C. 100V, 50-, 3phase, 4pole, 1500 r.p.m., series type.
(iii) 100watts, D.C. 10V, 10A, A.C. 100V, 50-, single phase. 4pole, 1500 r.p.m., dynamotor type (polarized.)
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