A magnetic equivalent circuit based performance computation of a Lundell alternator

A claw pole synchronous generator, or Lundell alternator, is the main source of electric energy in today's internal combustion engine automobile. Having in mind that as consumer power onboard a vehicle steadily increases, the importance of creating an accurate computational tool for Lundell alternator analysis and potential gains on output, efficiency and weight, such a tool is clearly needed. This article shows how a contemporary electric machine analysis tool, the magnetic equivalent circuit method (MEC) helps one predict performance of a Lundell alternator with a very high accuracy and a minimum of computational time.