Efficiency and Performance Analysis of a Generator – Exciter Combination System

This paper presents a performance analysis of a generator-exciter combination system that implements both generator and exciter structures. In practical applications, permanent magnets (PMs) are commonly used in generators and exciters. The adaptation of PMs in wound generators or exciters creates the so-called hybrid structure. Three types of exciter that can be used for field excitation of the main generator are compared and their efficiency, along with the respective dynamic response, are analyzed. In order to improve the dynamic response and operating efficiency, a parallel hybrid generator and a PM exciter with a directly embedded field current controller are presented in this paper. Finite element analysis (FEA) was performed to find out the characteristics of the structure. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed hybrid generator system and the accuracy of the analysis results are confirmed through simulation and experiments.