Integrated Starter/Alternator for Military Tactical Vehicles

Vehicles that are capable of acting as mobile generators can support the electrical needs of the mobile fighting force while reducing tactical generator use, and increase vehicle performance such as fuel economy and durability. This can be accomplished through the development of integrated starter alternator (ISA) technologies which use permanent magnets. GS Engineering is developing a team of integration experts to support TACOM in their pursuit of integrating starter / alternators. This team will be able to transfer “lessons learned” from one vehicle platform to another, optimizing the development time while utilizing resources in an efficient manner. GSE has developed an ISA concept that will have minimal impact on current vehicle systems, yet produce enough electric power to replace / supplement the Army’s portable generator sets. The ISA system will be belt driven and mount in the location of the current alternator and generate 16.8 kW of power (600 Amps) at engine idle (700 rpm) and exceed 30 kW (1000 Amps)at higher engine speeds. This is compared to the current alternator producing 87 amps and 300 amps respectively at idle and higher speeds. This system would have the capability to link with similarly equipped vehicles to power field hospitals, command/ control centers, communications links, or air defense systems.