Title: Development of an alternator correlatable load dump model

Authors: D.D. Bailey, J.G. Olin, F.D. Esenwein

Addresses: Packard Electric Division, General Motors Corporation, Warren, Ohio, USA. ' Packard Electric Division, General Motors Corporation, Warren, Ohio, USA. ' Packard Electric Division, General Motors Corporation, Warren, Ohio, USA

Abstract: The electrical transient resulting from the sudden loss of the battery as a load to the alternator is defined as load dump. By modelling the alternator as an exponentially decaying ideal current source with a speed dependent source impedance (a Norton|s equivalent circuit) model parameters can be related to actual alternator characteristics. Applications of this model to prediction of load dump waveforms and energy dissipation in suppression devices as a function of vehicle operating conditions and alternator type are given. Implementation of the model in hardware results in a bench top load dump simulator for component testing. Methods of specifying proper suppression device parameters are discussed and computer simulations of suppression device stressing are included.

Keywords: alternator model development; automotive electronics; load dump simulator design; waveforms; component testing; suppression devices; simulation; vehicle design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1985.061136

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1985 Vol.6 No.6, pp.779 - 794

Published online: 25 May 2014 *

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