Abstract
Keywords: Turbo-generator; switched reluctance; exhaust energy recovery.
Increasingly, the automotive industry is providing electrical accessory loads such as climate control and navigation and entertainment systems as standard equipment. In addition, electrical actuation of various mechanical components as a means of improving performance/functionality has become widespread, and the use of electric oil/water pumps and electric power-assisted steering, for example, is now commonplace. Longer term predictions indicate that the adoption of new high power consuming electrical technologies, such as drive-by-wire and electromagnetic valve-trains, will significantly increase the electrical power demand, and it is expected that the maximum power capability of conventional alternators, viz. ~3kW, will soon be exceeded, and that ultimately the electrical power demand could be as high as ~8kW [1, 2].