Exciter circuit for a synchronous machine

An exciter circuit for a synchronous machine, the exciter circuit comprising:

• at least one charge storage device configured to supply energy to a DC output of the exciter circuit that is coupled to the synchronous machine;
• and
• control circuitry configured to:
• receive a first signal indicative of an operating state of the synchronous machine,
• receive a second signal indicative of an electrical demand for the synchronous machine, and
• supply at least a portion of energy stored by the at least one charge storage device for excitation of the synchronous machine to satisfy the electrical demand indicated by the second signal when:
• the electrical demand indicated by the second signal exceeds a threshold capability of the synchronous machine that would otherwise exist if the at least one charge storage device was not present, and
• the synchronous machine is in an appropriate operating state that enables the use of the at least one storage device to supply the at least a portion of the energy stored by the at least one storage device as derived from the first signal;
• wherein the first signal is indicative of a measured parameter of the operating state of the synchronous machine, the measured parameter comprising at least one of a voltage output, current output and power output of the synchronous machine, and one or more of a voltage demand, current demand, power demand, inductance demand and power factor from a load connected to the synchronous machine;
• and wherein the second signal is indicative of a parameter requirement of the electrical demand for the synchronous machine, the parameter requirement comprising at least one of a field voltage and/or a field current of an exciter of the synchronous machine, an input, output and/or one or more internal values of an automatic voltage regulator configured to control the synchronous machine, a voltage and/or current provided by a generator of the synchronous machine, a real or complex inductance demand of the synchronous machine, and a power factor from a load connected to the synchronous machine.