What types of car generators are there?

The car generator is the main power source of the car. Its function is to provide DC power to all electrical devices (including the starter) when the engine is running normally. At the same time, it also charges the battery.

Automobile generators are mainly composed of rotors, stators, rectifiers, front and rear end covers, fans, etc. Among them, the rotor is mainly composed of rotor core, rotor winding, fan, etc., which is the source of the magnetic field of the generator; the stator is mainly composed of stator core, stator winding, frame, etc., which is the source of the electric field of the generator; the rectifier is mainly composed of diodes, which can convert AC into DC; the front and rear end covers are used to fix the stator and rotor; the fan is used to dissipate heat.

The principle of power generation of automobile generators is that when the engine is running normally, the rotor rotates in the stator, cutting the magnetic lines of force, thereby generating current in the stator. The magnitude and direction of this current will change with the changes in the engine speed and load. At the same time, the generator also has a regulator to adjust the output voltage of the generator to keep it stable. Different types of cars may use different types of generators, such as ordinary AC generators, integral AC generators, AC generators with pumps, brushless AC generators, and permanent magnet AC generators.

An ordinary automotive alternator is an automotive alternator without special devices and special functions, such as the JF132 alternator. It is driven by the engine and, when working normally, supplies power to all electrical devices except the starter and can charge the battery. There are many types of this generator. According to the different rectifier structures, the alternator can be divided into six-tube alternators, eight-tube alternators, nine-tube alternators and eleven-tube alternators. According to the different grounding methods of the excitation winding, the alternator can be divided into an internally grounded alternator and an externally grounded alternator.

The automotive integrated alternator is an alternator with an electronic regulator built in, such as the JFZ1613Z alternator used in FAW-Volkswagen Audi, Golf, Jetta and Shanghai Santana. Compared with ordinary alternators, this generator has some special advantages.

First, the integrated alternator has an electronic regulator installed inside, which can control the output voltage of the generator to keep it basically constant to meet the needs of automotive electrical appliances. This regulation function makes the output of the generator more stable and will not affect the voltage due to changes in engine speed.

Secondly, the structure of the integrated alternator is more compact and easy to install. Since the electronic regulator and other components are integrated inside, the structure is simpler than that of ordinary alternators, and it is also convenient for maintenance and replacement.

In addition, the integrated AC generator also has higher efficiency and performance. Since it uses an electronic regulator to control the output of the generator, it can effectively reduce energy waste and improve energy efficiency. At the same time, due to its compact structure, it is light in weight, which is conducive to reducing the fuel consumption of the car.

The automobile alternator with pump is a special type of alternator. In addition to its power generation function, it also has the function of providing vacuum boost for the automobile braking system. This type of generator is usually equipped with a vacuum pump inside the generator, which can directly use the vacuum pipeline of the engine to provide boost for the braking system. Therefore, it not only has the function of generating electricity, but can also be used as a vacuum booster pump to provide boost for the automobile's braking system.

There are some advantages to an AC generator with a pump. First, it can simplify the structure and installation of the car because a separate vacuum pump is not needed to provide power assistance. Second, since the vacuum pump is already integrated inside the generator, it can be easily repaired and replaced, reducing repair costs and time. Of course, there are also some disadvantages to an AC generator with a pump. First, due to its relatively complex structure, the manufacturing cost is relatively high. Second, due to the internal configuration of the vacuum pump and other components, it is larger in size and may take up some space.

Automobile brushless AC generator refers to an AC generator without brushes and slip rings. It has the advantages of novel structure, excellent performance, stable operation and few faults. The brushless AC generator is actually composed of two AC generators. One is used as an exciter and the other is the main generator. They work together to output the electricity through a rotating rectifier composed of diodes (or thyristors).

The main generator has its field winding on the rotor and its armature winding on the stator (to output the electricity). The exciter has its armature winding on the rotor and its field winding on the stator. The working principle of a brushless AC generator is to provide excitation to the field winding on the stator of the exciter, and its rotor armature winding will generate AC power, which will be supplied to the main generator's field winding on the rotor after passing through a rotating rectifier, so that the main generator's armature winding on the stator will induce the required AC power. This is the "brushless" working principle of a general AC generator.

The development of automotive generators has gone through several stages. At first, automotive generator technology was very backward, inefficient, and often damaged by overheating. In the 1920s and 1930s, with the advancement of power technology, the technology of automotive generators also began to improve. In the 1970s, with the application of electronic computer technology, the intelligence of automotive generators was greatly improved, which also laid a solid foundation for the subsequent automotive electronic systems. Since then, automotive generator technology has continued to innovate, including the replacement of DC generators, the application of rare earth permanent magnet generators, the use of high-efficiency rotors, and the design of parallel charging systems.

The application of these technologies has greatly improved the efficiency of automobile generators, and also provided possibilities for energy conservation, environmental protection and intelligence. In the future, automobile generator technology will also develop in the direction of high efficiency, intelligence, energy conservation and environmental protection, and hybrid and electric vehicles will be the main application direction of generator technology. With the continuous development of new energy vehicles, the scale of investment continues to increase, and the country has also introduced corresponding subsidy policies. In the future, there will be more innovation and development in automobile generator technology.