Optimized Design and Simulation of an Air-Core Pulsed Alternator

The air-core pulsed alternator has been studied for more than three decades. However, its optimized design theories are still rarely reported. The performance of the air-core pulsed alternator-based pulsed-power system is often closely associated with the electrical machine parameters, the system structure, and the load requirements. The parametric optimization of this type of alternator has a very important influence on the performance. This paper focuses on the optimization theory of the air-core pulsed alternator design, including the optimization of the magnetic field distribution, the turn number of armature winding, and the turn number of field winding. The features of the magnetic field distribution in the air-core pulsed alternators are analyzed based on the analytical expressions. By designing a ferromagnetic shield put on the outside of the stator, the radial magnetic field component increases and the circumferential one decreases. The optimization principles of the winding turn numbers are also deduced based on the system circuit and operation mode. The optimization theories are verified by system-level dynamic simulation. Finally, some rules are summarized, which are beneficial to the optimized design of the air-core pulsed alternator.