Low cost brushless generators

The growth of embedded generation and portable electrical installations has led to increased demand for low cost, flexible and reliable generator systems. Specific load requirements of such installations suggests that the generator output should be electronically controlled to match the needs of an individual system. Recently fully pitched windings have been proposed for switched reluctance drives and it shall be shown that a two phase switched reluctance machine with fully pitched windings is the same as an inductor alternator. Inductor alternators are relatively simple machines which, coupled with electronic rectification and regulation can provide an inexpensive yet efficient and controllable DC generator system. The paper shall describe the construction of this robust and inexpensive machine, the theory of generation and practical results from an experimental 8/12 alternator. Capacitor compensation is discussed and the theory and results of two simple electronic converters shall be shown.