Universal Model of Pulsed Alternators Using LTspice

The high power and energy density of synchronous machines turn them into reliable sources of energy for pulsed power applications. In this article, two mathematical models using both actual and normalized (per-unit) parameters have been developed and simulated in LTspice, which is a powerful and a free tool to simulate electrical/electronic circuits. In this article, an efficient solver based on the flux and current equations is presented. The model has been validated against published results with both actual and per-unit parameters. It has been observed that for models with normalized parameters, the simulation time is significantly reduced. The validated model of the machine has been used to show the effects of nonlinear loads on the voltages and currents, in particular the reaction currents in the damper winding inside of the generator. In addition, the model has been used to study the effect of the RC time constant of the load on the peak power provided by a synchronous machine used to store energy for pulsed power applications.