A synchronous generator may comprise a rotor and a stator. The stator may comprise a first armature winding configured to output a first three-phase voltage, a second armature winding configured to output a second three-phase voltage, and a first variable inductor, wherein the first variable inductor is tunable in response to a rotational frequency of the rotor.

In one embodiment, a generator includes a rotor configured to rotate in cooperation with a stator to generate electrical power. A sensor, which is supported by the rotor, is configured to generate a trigger signal indicative of a position of the rotor. A communication interface is configured to receive the trigger signal from the sensor of the rotor and receive data indicative of an output of the generator. A controller supported by the rotor or configured to perform a phase analysis of the trigger signal and the output of the generator and calculate a power angle for the generator based on the phase analysis.

A low-frequency band suppression enhanced anti-reversal power system stabilizer is presented by the invention. Currently the widely used PSS2B power system stabilizer needs lead elements above Order 2 to meet the phase compensation requirement of DC blocking signal of active power, thus quickly increasing high-frequency band gain, restricting allowable total setting gain of PSS, limiting low-band gain and reducing low-frequency band suppression ability of power system stabilizer. The invention will add generator speed signal (which is treated by DC blocking element and corrected by parallel proportional differential PD) and active power signal P.sub.e (which is treated by DC blocking element and gained by gain factor K.sub.s3) to get equivalent synthetic mechanical power of power system stabilizer. The actual active power signal gained by gain factor K.sub.S1 can meet the requirement of phase compensation through Order 1 lead and lag elements, thus increasing allowable total setting gain of PSS and improving the ability of low-frequency band oscillation suppression.

An excitation current-limited power generator includes a digital interface configured to be coupled to an engine control unit (ECU), a regulator coupled configured to be coupled to an excitation current input of an alternator, the excitation current controlling current generated by the alternator, a frequency sensor configured to measuring rotation speed of the alternator, and memory storing a communicated limit received by the digital interface and a first permanent limit, the regulator configured to limit the excitation current to the lesser of the first permanent limit and the communicated limit.

In a rotary electric machine, a modulation signal generator generates a modulation signal including information indicative of rotation of a rotor based on change of a voltage at an output end of a stator winding, and outputs the modulation signal. A rectifying unit alternately turns on and off the switch to rectify the voltage at an output end of the stator winding, thus generating a rectified voltage. An excitation current supplying circuit is communicably connected to the modulation signal generator via a communication line, and starts a supply of an excitation current to the excitation winding of the rotor to induce a rotating magnetic field in the stator winding when the modulation signal output from the modulation signal generator is input thereto via the communication line.

An alternator is described that is configured to provide a current for powering one or more loads. The alternator includes an output port configured to output the current for powering the one or more loads, and one or more current sensors configured to measure a current level of at least a portion of the current being output via the output port to the one or more loads. The alternator further includes one or more communication ports configured to transmit information based on the current level measured by the one or more current sensors.

A power source includes a generator configured to receive mechanical energy and convert the mechanical energy to an electrical output. The generator includes a rotor and a stator. The stator has a first coil and a second coil. The first coil and the second coil are selectively arranged in a first configuration to provide the electrical output at a first voltage level and in a second configuration to provide the electrical output at a second voltage level. The power source also includes a detection circuit including a sensing relay. The detection circuit is configured to generate an output based on whether the first coil and the second coil are arranged in the first configuration or in the second configuration.

A vehicle electrical system includes: an active bridge rectifier which is connected to a generator via multiple phase terminals, and having terminals on the direct voltage side; a unit for recognizing load shedding at the active bridge rectifier and short-circuiting the phase terminals in a clocked manner, as the result of which a pulsed current is fed to the vehicle electrical system; a vehicle electrical system capacitor configured for smoothing the pulsed current; and a voltage limiting unit configured for clipping a voltage between the terminals of the bridge rectifier on the direct voltage side to a predefined maximum voltage.

A method and apparatus for operating a generator control unit having power bridge, further including having an input and at least one output, wherein the input is operably coupled with a generator power output, and a controller communicatively coupled with the power bridge and configured to operate the power bridge.

In one embodiment, a generator includes a rotor configured to rotate in cooperation with a stator to generate electrical power. A sensor, which is supported by the rotor, is configured to generate a trigger signal indicative of a position of the rotor. A communication interface is configured to receive the trigger signal from the sensor of the rotor and receive data indicative of an output of the generator. A controller supported by the rotor or configured to perform a phase analysis of the trigger signal and the output of the generator and calculate a power angle for the generator based on the phase analysis.