Drive device for field winding-type rotating electrical machine

A drive device for a rotating electrical machine that drives a field winding-type rotating electrical machine in which a rotor winding is wound around a rotor core, the drive device comprising:

• an electric circuit unit between the rotating electrical machine and a power supply;
• and
• a control device that controls the electric circuit unit,
• wherein
• the electric circuit unit includes
• a smoothing capacitor between a high-potential side line and a low-potential side line of the power supply,
• a power conversion circuit unit that is electrically connected to both ends of the smoothing capacitor and supplies alternating current power to a stator winding of the rotating electrical machine, and
• a power supply circuit unit that is electrically connected to both ends of the smoothing capacitor in a manner parallel with the power conversion circuit unit and configured to supply power to the rotor winding, and
• the control device includes
• a first control unit that drives both the power conversion circuit unit and the power supply circuit unit when the smoothing capacitor is discharged,
• a second control unit that drives only one of the power conversion circuit unit and the power supply circuit unit when the smoothing capacitor is discharged, and
• a selection unit that selectively activates one of the first control unit and the second control unit based on a predetermined condition.