How Not to Alter the Output of an Alternator
Can an alternator be made that can consistently produce the same amount of current, regardless of the speed of the engine?
To conduct this experiment, a 2700 RPM motor was used to simulate a car's engine. Rather than having a belt connecting the engine and the alternator, a seperate cone-driven shaft design was used. The engine shaft was formed into a cone 2.5 inches in diameter at the base and .75 at the point, while being 5.5 inches long. A rubber wheel was in constant contact with the rotating cone. This wheel could be moved up and down the length of the cone, creating virtually unlimited ratios. The shaft that the rubber wheel was on was what actually spun the alternator. Output was then measured in volts.
Four different speeds were tested, and the results were similar in all four tests. Observed was a substantial difference in the speed of the alternator and the voltage it produced. These results support the theory that a variable speed alternator can be produced. Not only can it be produced, but it can also be easily adapted for use in industry.
Research Done By:
Paul Hubinsky
Fraser
Scott Wallace
Fraser
Warren Consolidated Schools