The methodology of modeling an inductor alternator in the ANSYS Maxwell

BACKGROUND: Due to the significant increase in the number of vehicle on-board consumers, the requirements for power supply systems of vehicles are increasing every year, in particular, for alternators with various excitation systems, the main indicators of which are the quality of the rectified voltage, the value of the rated current, weight and size indicators, reliability, noise level and service life. AIM: To present a method for calculating the magnetic circuit of switch reluctance machines in the ANSYS Maxwell software. METHODS: The calculation was carried out in the ANSYS Maxwell software and computing complex. RESULTS: The calculation of the main parameters of switch reluctance generators is carried out according to the well-known method. However, such calculation methods have a high error in the output indicators and do not consider the coefficients of loss and saturation from permanent magnets, which is an important feature of the magnetic circuit of some inductor alternator designs. Therefore, the ANSYS Maxwell software, which allows simulating electromagnetic processes inside the generator in more detail, is used for modeling. CONCLUSION: The finite element model of the inductor alternator allows optimizing the object under study and increasing the specific power, with constant weight and size indicators. Based on the simulation results, the following curves are built: voltage, current, frequency, shaft torque, magnetic induction, loss coefficient, etc. The results obtained allow analyzing the finite element model of the alternator in detail and giving recommendations to enterprises on the design of switch reluctance alternators for mobile units of various purposes.