This paper presents the method of total harmonic distortion factor calculation, which could be applied for the salient pole synchronous generator with electromagnetic or permanent magnet excitation. The method takes into account the saturation of the magnetic circuit and actual winding scheme (including winding with fractional value of slots per pole and phase Q). The calculations are based on 2D FEM simulation that produces the radial (normal to stator surface) component of the magnetic flux density in the air gap. Total harmonic distortion factor is determined as a function of the shape of the pole shoe. The analysis is performed at a constant value of equivalent air gap. The task is to find the shape of the pole shoe that guarantees the minimal value of the distortion factor KDIST.
