EMF and efficiency measurements of a novel self-excited reluctance generator

This paper presents a novel self-excited single-phase reluctance generator whose stator has 4-pole field and 8-pole armature windings, respectively. Ferrite magnets are set between stator poles to give residual magnetism in the stator core. The output terminals of the armature windings are connected to the input terminals of a single-phase full-bridge rectifier circuit. The DC output terminals are connected to the field windings to increase the excited flux. This generator is able to build up completely electromotive force (EMF) in the armature windings by the assistance of the residual magnetism. The novel single-phase reluctance generator with ferrite magnets between stator poles has been proposed and the prototype generator has been designed, made and tested. No-load and load tests have been done and the building-up characteristics of the EMF and the measured results of the efficiency have been clear. It has been confirmed that the measured values such as rated output, voltage and current were nearly corresponding to the designed values.