An Integrated Capacitive Power Transfer System for Field Excitation of Wound Field Synchronous Machine

Research Description:

The development of cost-effective electric vehicles has renewed interest in Wound Field Synchronous Machines (WFSMs) for traction applications. However, low efficiency and frequent maintenance of the brushes prevent a wider adoption of WFSMs. To overcome these challenges, the application of wireless power transfer systems for field excitation has recently been explored. This research project investigates the integration of a Capacitive Power Transfer (CPT) system for field excitation of WFSMs. The coupling structure for CPT is placed within the air gap of the machine. The CPT coupling plates are made of magnetic material. The novelty of the approach is that the presented design allows power transfer to the rotor without increasing the active volume of the machine. The presence of stator and rotor core around the power transfer plates acts as shielding plates to prevent electric field exposure around the surrounding environment. Hence, the standard electric field limits for a safe working environment can be achieved.

Publications:

S. Savio, S. M. Hassan Gillani, U. Pratik, R. Chattopadhyay, I. Husain and Z. Pantic, “An Integrated Capacitive Power Transfer System for Field Excitation of Wound Field Synchronous Machine,” 2023 IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC), Orlando, FL, USA, 2023, pp. 829-835, doi: 10.1109/APEC43580.2023.10131173.