Alternator for a motor vehicle equipped with advanced means for voltage rectification

The alternator for an automotive vehicle according to the invention comprises a stator, a rotor and voltage rectification means in the form of diodes for rectifying a DC voltage AC voltages outputted from the phase of the stator windings. According to the invention, the voltage rectification means comprises at least one low-loss diode (D1 to D6) of the SBR type for "Super Barrier Rectifier" in English terminology. According to a particular embodiment, at least one half of all of the alternator rectifier diodes are of the SBR and form a half-bridge rectifier. Preferably, however, the SBR-type diodes together form the rectifying bridge. Reduced Joule losses of the alternator can be obtained by removing at least one electric conductor per slot of the stator, compared with a comparable power alternator equipped with PN type diodes.