MEC-based prediction to the loss of claw pole alternators

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to deal with the modeling of a claw pole alternator (CPA) by a 3D magnetic equivalent circuit (MEC) taking into account the saturation and magnetic armature reaction effects then its utilization for the prediction of the machine losses. Design/methodology/approach – Following the derivation of the proposed model, it is validated experimentally at no-load and load operations. Proposed MEC is applied to the investigation of a conventional CPA losses. Findings – The CPA efficiency is affected by different loss mechanisms. Indeed, the copper losses are dominant at lower speeds, while the iron and ventilation ones are more significant at high speeds. Research limitations/implications – An experimental validation of the losses computed by the MEC shall be treated in the future. Practical implications – The CPA is equipping most if not all embedded generating systems of road vehicles. The improvement of its efficiency is of great importance. Originality/value – The MEC-base...