An analytical and genetic-algorithm-based design tool for brushless excitation systems of low-medium rated synchronous generators

Abstract

The sizing procedures adopted for the everyday design of electrical machines are well known and consolidated. However, for brushless exciters of field wound, synchronous generators, there is significant room for improvement as the impact of the diodes’ commutations in the rotating bridge rectifier are often neglected. This paper deals with the development of a fast analytical, genetic-algorithm-based design tool for the excitation systems of salient-pole, field wound synchronous generators. As vessel for this study, the exciter of a particular 400kVAis considered. The proposed tool is focused on achieving exciter designs that minimize the voltage drop due to the commutation processes in the rotating diode rectifier, with minimum impact on the overall efficiency