Calculation of the Lifetime of Car Alternators

Alternators' lifetimes are determined by the lifetimes of the components: stator, rotor, bearings, voltage regulator, etc. The decommissioning of the alternators is due in approx. 40 % of cases of damage to their insulation systems, their lifetime depending on the operating conditions of the vehicles, respectively on the current drawn, the load of the main engine, the characteristics of the running track, engine vibrations, ambient temperature, solar radiation, humidity, vapors oil, fuel, acid that causes corrosion, etc. This paper presents a method of calculating the lifetimes of the insulation systems of car alternators subjected to constant and time-varying combined thermal and mechanical stresses. It is shown that the consumed lifetimes increase over time and that these increases are directly influenced by the intensification of these increases are directly influenced by the intensification of the stresses above the nominal values are more important if the stresses act simultaneously.