HIGH-PERFORMANCE RELUCTANCE GENERATOR

The paper introduces the axially laminated anisotropic (ALA) rotor reluctance synchronous machine as a brushless high-performance generator. A new theory for steady-state performance analysis and determination of maximum power-conversion capability of reluctance generators is presented. The high efficiency, high power factor, and high power density of the ALA-rotor reluctance generator are demonstrated through load tests on a laboratory model obtained from a 1.5 kW, 2-pole induction machine whose rotor was replaced by a single lamination/insulation-layer ALA rotor built for demonstration purposes. Unusually high values of L(d)/L(q) ratio have been measured (L(d)/L(q) > 16). The reluctance generator should be ideal as a DC-output brushless generator, with power electronics for voltage control.