Synchronous rectification of the automotive alternator using sliding mode observer

Concerns estimator design for sensorless synchronous rectification of the automotive alternator. Theoretical development of the observer deals with back electromotive force estimate of the alternator as the engine runs at a variable speed. The design of the estimator with respect to battery current measurement is studied for an easier and less expensive implementation. The discrete-time versions of the aforementioned observers are included in the paper and simulation results are presented for validation of the proposed observation algorithms