Alternator Regulator Phase Signal Analysis for Rapid Excitation Current Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing alternator regulator systems in motor vehicles experience a significant idle time before delivering current to the on-board power supply system after activation, leading to inefficient charging and power availability, especially during frequent engine starts.
Innovation Solution
A process and regulator function that rapidly increase the excitation current by analyzing the phase signal, allowing for immediate current delivery by increasing the excitation current until it meets a certain condition relative to the alternator voltage, followed by a reduced rate of change to prevent abrupt torque loading on the engine, thereby reducing idle time and enhancing power availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the excitation current is increased rapidly to reduce idle time, then the power availability improves, but the torque loading on the engine increases abruptly
Solution Approach 1:
The regulator performs preliminary analysis of the phase signal to detect the zero-crossing point before fully increasing the excitation current. This preliminary action allows the system to prepare for current delivery at the optimal moment, reducing idle time while controlling the rate of current increase to prevent abrupt torque loading on the engine.
Solution Approach 2:
The regulator dynamically adjusts the excitation current increase rate based on real-time phase signal analysis. By making the current increase dynamic rather than static, the system can rapidly build current when needed while smoothly managing the torque impact on the engine, resolving the contradiction between speed and force stability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the excitation current is increased slowly to prevent abrupt torque loading, then the engine stability improves, but the idle time before current delivery increases
Solution Approach 1:
The regulator continuously monitors the phase signal and uses this feedback to determine the precise moment to begin increasing excitation current. By analyzing the zero-crossing point of the phase signal, the system receives real-time feedback that allows it to start current delivery at the optimal moment, reducing idle time while maintaining controlled current increase to preserve engine stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The regulator changes the parameter of excitation current increase rate based on the detected phase signal conditions. By adjusting this parameter dynamically - increasing the rate when the phase signal indicates readiness and controlling the rate to maintain engine stability - the system resolves the contradiction between speed of current delivery and engine stability.
3Productivity
If additional components are added to optimize current delivery timing, then the power availability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The regulator uses the existing phase signal from the alternator's own operation to determine when to increase excitation current. Instead of requiring external timing components or additional sensors, the system serves itself by utilizing its own operational signals for control decisions, improving current delivery efficiency without adding device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The phase signal serves multiple functions: it indicates the rotational position of the alternator, provides timing information for current delivery, and acts as the control input for the regulator. By making the phase signal multi-functional, the system achieves optimized current delivery timing without requiring additional dedicated components, thus improving productivity while maintaining simplicity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces the idle time before current delivery to the on-board power supply system, ensuring immediate energy availability and improved alternator performance during frequent engine starts, without adding additional costs or complexity to the alternator system.
Implementation Method 1
The rotor of the synchronous machine 9 carries an excitation winding 5 and is supplied with excitation current IERR... The magnetic field of the excitation winding 5 is typically guided by way of pole fingers made of magnetically permeable steel into the stator and induces an alternating voltage during rotation in the stator phases.
Implementation Method 2
The rectifier 1 converts the alternating voltages of the stator phases to the direct voltage UGEN required for the on-board power supply system 7.
Data Source
AI summary
A process for increasing the excitation current, particularly when activating the alternator, whose rectified alternator voltage is regulated by way of a regulator, is provided. For regulating the alternator voltage, the regulator sets the excitation current of an excitation winding of the alternator. The regulator further receives a phase signal. A rapid increasing of the excitation current to a defined value takes place, during which the phase signal is analyzed simultaneously. This rapid increasing continues until the phase signal or a quantity derived therefrom meets a defined condition with respect to the alternator voltage. Therefore, a further increasing of the excitation current takes place, preferably at a rate of change reduced with respect to the previous rapid increase.