A HIGH-EFFICIENCY HIGH-POWER-GENERATION SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES

This paper presents a new scheme for the efficient generation of high electric power demanded for future automobiles, The new system consist s of a permanent-magnet (PM) alternator having high-energy MAGNEQUENCH (MQ) magnets and split winding and a novel electronic voltage-regulat ion scheme, A proof-of-concept system, capable of providing 100/250 A (idle/cruising) at 14 V, has been built and tested in the laboratory w ith encouraging results, This high output is provided at 15-20 percent age points higher efficiencies than conventional automotive alternator s, which translates into considerable fuel economy savings, The system is 8 dB quieter and has a rotor inertia of only 2/3 that of an equiva lent production alternator, thus allowing for a belt drive without exc essive slippage.