A new sensorless speed control scheme for doubly-fed reluctance generators

This paper presents the development and experimental validation of a novel angular velocity observer-based field-oriented control algorithm for a promising low-cost brushless doubly fed reluctance generator (BDFRG) in wind power applications. The BDFRG has been receiving increasing attention because of the use of partially rated power electronics, the high reliability of brushless design, and competitive performance to its popular slip-ring counterpart, the doubly fed induction generator. The controller viability has been demonstrated on a BDFRG laboratory test facility for emulation of variable speed and loading conditions of wind turbines or pump drives

Model predictive control: an effective control approach for high performance induction machine drives

Induction machine drives with various configurations are getting a lot of attention in several industrial applications. Due to this increasing demand in industrial applications, the significance of developing effective control approaches for obtaining a high dynamic performance from the induction machine drives became essential. Up to the present time, the control of induction machine drives using power converters has been based on the principle of mean value, using pulse width modulation with linear controllers in a cascaded structure. Recent research works have demonstrated that it is possible to use Predictive Control to control induction machine drives with the use of power converters, without using modulators and linear controllers. This new approach will have a strong impact on control in power electronics in coming decades. The advantages of Predictive Control are noticed through the ability to consider a multi-objective case within the model, easy inclusion of non-linearities within the model, simple treatment of system constraints, easy of digital implementation, and flexibility of including modifications and extension of control horizons according to the required applications. Upon this, the research presented in this thesis concerns with developing different control topologies for various configurations of induction machine drives based on finite control set model predictive control (FCS-MPC) principle, which actuates directly the switch states of the voltage source inverter (VSI). In addition, for enhancing the robustness of the induction machine drives, different sensorless approaches are utilized and tested for validations. The first topology of induction machine drives that has been studied is the induction motor (IM) drive. An effective model predictive direct torque control (MP DTC) approach is used to control the torque and stator flux of the motor through the utilization of an effective cost function, through which the understanding and comparing implementation variants and studying convergence and stability issues can be easily investigated. The speed sample effect on the control variants and overall performance of the proposed MP DTC is analyzed, which enables the understanding of the real base principle of DTC, as well as why and when it works well. Two different sensorless procedures for estimating the speed and rotor position are used by the proposed MP DTC approach; the first utilizes a model reference adaptive system (MRAS) observer, while the other exploits the prediction step during the implementation of proposed MP DTC to get the speed information through performing a linear extrapolation of the speed values starting from the last two estimated samples. Extensive simulation and experimental tests have been carried out to validate the effectiveness of both sensorless approaches in achieving precise tracking of speed commands for a wide range of variations. For enhancing the robustness of proposed MP DTC, the stator flux as a control variable is replaced with controlling the flow of the reactive power through the induction motor drive. As the reactive power is a measured quantity compared with the estimated value of stator flux, thus, the sensitivity of the control against parameters variation is limited, and this confirmed through the obtained results from both simulation and experimental tests. In addition, an effective alternative approach to the MP DTC is presented, which based on controlling the instantaneous values of the active and reactive powers of the IM drive based on model predictive principle, instead of controlling the torque and flux as in MP DTC. This technique has the advantage that all controlled variables are became measured quantities (active and reactive powers), thus the estimation problems that commonly present in classic DTC schemes are effectively limited. For the last two control approaches (MP DTC reactive power control, and MP IPCactive and reactive power control), the sensorless that utilizes the predictive feature is also adopted. Obtained results via simulation and experiments confirm the feasibility of the two alternatives control procedures in obtaining a robust dynamic response of IM drive. To limit the accompanied ripple contents in the controlled values of electromagnetic torque and stator flux of induction motor, an effective ripple reduction technique has been presented. The technique is based on the derivation of the optimal value for the weighting factor (w_f) used in the cost function. A detailed mathematical derivation of the optimal value of w_f is introduced based on the analysis of torque and flux ripples behaviors. The proposed ripple reduction technique has been validated via simulation utilizing Matlab/Simulink software, and experimentally tested using a fast control prototyping dSpace 1104 board. In addition, the prediction step based sensorless approach is adopted during implementation. The performance of the IM drive using the proposed approach is compared with the results obtained from MP DTC approach that uses an arbitrary value of w_f. The comparison confirms the validity of the proposed ripple reduction procedure in reducing the ripple contents in the controlled variables while preserving the permissible computation burdens during the implementation. The FCS-MPC principle is also utilized to control the current of induction motor as an alternative to classic field oriented control (FOC), the proposed model predictive current control (MPCC) approach belongs to the class of the hysteresis predictive control (for limiting the switching frequency) as the MPCC is triggered by the exceeding of the error of a given threshold. In addition, a sensorless drive is achieved by including an effective Luenberger observer (LO) for precise estimation of rotor flux vector together with stator current, speed and load torque. The stator currents are estimated to eliminate the accompanied noise in their values when they are directly measured, thus the currents noise during prediction is limited. An effective pole placement procedure for the selection of observer gains has been adopted. The procedure is based on shifting the poles of the observer to the left of the motor poles in the complex (s-plane) with low imaginary part, so that the stability of the observer is enhanced for wide speed range. The feasibility of the sensorless MPCC for IM drive is confirmed through the obtained simulation and experimental results. The second topology of induction machine drives that has been studied is the doubly fed induction motor (DFIM) drive. An effective model predictive direct torque control (MP DTC) algorithm is developed for controlling the torque and rotor flux of DFIM drive. In addition, an effective sensorless approach is presented, which estimates the speed and rotor position in an explicit way without the need for involving the flux in the estimation process, thus the effect of parameters variation on the overall performance of the sensorless observer is effectively limited, this has been approved through the obtained results that are performed for a wide speed range from sub-synchronous to super-synchronous speed operation. During the operation, the stator resistance and magnetizing inductance values are changed from their original values to study the variation effect on the observer performance. Matlab/Simulink software and a prototyping dSpace 1104 control board are used to validate the effectiveness of proposed sensorless MP DTC approach through simulation and experiments, respectively. The results proof the robustness of the proposed sensorless approach and its ability to achieve precise estimation of the speed and rotor position. The third topology of induction machine drives that has been studied is the doubly fed induction generator (DFIG). A detailed analytical derivation for the proposed model predictive direct power control (MP DPC) approach for DFIG is presented, which as a sequence considered as a transposed control approach from the MP DTC used before for doubly fed induction motor (DFIM). A sensorless approach based on model reference adaptive system (MRAS) observer is adopted for estimating the speed and rotor position. Both simulation using Matlab/Simulink software and experimental test using a prototyping dSpace 1104 control board have tested the dynamic performance of the drive. Obtained results affirm the feasibility of the proposed MP DPC approach in achieving a decoupled control of active and reactive powers for DFIG. In summary, it can be said that the proposed model predictive control approaches have proved their ability in achieving high dynamic performance for different topologies of induction machine drives. In addition, the proposed sensorless techniques have confirmed their effectiveness for a wide range of speed variations. All of this are approved and validated through extensive simulation and experimental tests

Position/speed sensor-less control of wind energy conversion systems based on Rotor-Tied Doubly-Fed induction generator systems

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2019.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) is amongst the most popular wind turbine generator in South Africa. This is partly due to the fact that its backtoback power converters are partially rated. More precisely, they are rated at 30% of the generator rated power. A new DFIG topology has been proposed recently. That is the rotor-tied doubly-fed induction generator (RDFIG). In this topology, the rotor side is connected to the grid while the stator side is connected to the power converter. It has been shown that this topology holds the advantage of higher effeciency compared to the standard DFIG topology. High accuracy in all the measurements is required for the optimum operations of wind energy conversion systems (WECSs). The measurement of the rotor position/speed is amongst the most important measurements when it comes to implement any control system for the WECS. The conventional method of measuring the rotor position/speed is to use an electronic/mechanical sensor (encoder or resolver). This measurement involves the use of long cables and in a harsh environment, this can lead to faulty operations of the WECS. In this thesis, several slip speed estimators for sensor-less control of RDFIGbased WECSs are developed and implemented. The proposed slip speed estimators are based on the association of different sliding mode observers and the PLL estimator. The association of the PLL estimator improves the estimation performance by reducing the noise created by the sliding control control functions. Also, the proposed PLL estimator helps in avoiding a phase shift of π in super-synchronous operating conditions. In addition, in this thesis, several sliding mode observers were developed in order to improve the estimation performance. The proposed sliding mode observers were satisfactory for all the operating conditions of the RDFIG-based WECSs. The robustness of the proposed slip speed estimators is validated experimentally under various operating conditions. A 5.5-kW custom-designed gridconnected RDFIG test-bench based on a National Instrument (NI) PXIe-8115 controller is used. The proposed slip speed estimators solve the problem linked to the failure of the electromechanical sensors. The overall sensor-less control strategy provides an alternative to the sensor-based control of the RDFIGs. Also, the proposed sensor-less vector control strategy can be used as a back-up in case the electromechanical sensor fails.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die dubbelgevoerde induksiegenerator (DFIG) is een van die gewildste windturbinegenerators in Suid-Afrika. Dit is deels as gevolg van die laer kapasiteit omsetters wat die DFIG benodig. 'n Nuwe DFIG-topologie is onlangs voorgestel: Die rotorgebonde DFIG (RDFIG). In dié topologie word die masjien se rotor aan die netwerk gekoppel en die stator aan laer kapasiteit omsetters. Dit is bewys dat hierdie topologie 'n hoër masjieneffektiwiteit het in vergelyking met die standaard-DFIG. Hoë akkuraatheid van metings word vereis vir die optimale beheer van windenergie-omsettingstelsels (WECS). Die meting van die rotorposisie en - spoed is van die belangrikste metings wanneer dit kom by die beheerstelsel van 'n WECS. Die konvensionele metode van rotorposisie- en rotorspoedmeting is deur middel van 'n kodeerder. Dié meting behels die gebruik van lang kabels in 'n fel omgewing, wat kan lei tot die foutiewe werking van die stelsel. In hierdie verhandeling word verskeie glipspoedafskatters vir die sensorlose beheer van 'n RDFIG-gebaseerde WECS ontwikkel en geïmplimenteer. Die voorgestelde glipspoedafskatter is gebaseer op die assosiasie van verskillende glymodus-observeerders en 'n PLL-afskatter. Die assosiasie van die PPLafskatter verbeter die afskattingprestasie deur die geruis van die glymodusbeheerstelsels te verminder. Die voorgestelde PPL-afskatter help ook om 'n faseskuif van π te vermy tydens super-sinchroonoperasie. In hierdie verhandeling word verskeie glymodusobserveerders ontwikkel om die afskattingsprestasie te verbeter. Die voorgestelde glymode-observeerders presteer bevredigend vir alle toestande van die RDFIC-gebaseerde WECS. Die kragtigheid van die voorgestelde glipspoedafskatters se geldigheid word onder verskeie toestande eksperimenteel getoets en bewys. 'n 5.5 kW netwerkgekoppelde RDFIG toetsbank gebaseer op 'n National Instrument PXIe-8115-beheerder word gebruik. Die probleem van gefaalde elektromeganiese sensors word deur die voorgestelde glipspoedafskatters opgelos. Die sensorlose beheerstrategie gee ook 'n alternatief vir tradisionele sensor-gebaseerde beheer van die RDFIG's.Master

Integrated electric alternators/active filters

In response to energy crisis and power quality concerns, three different methodologies to integrate the concept of active filtering into the alternators are proposed. Wind energy, due to its free availability and its clean and renewable character, ranks as the most promising renewable energy resource that could play a key role in solving the worldwide energy crisis. An Integrated Doubly-fed Electric Alternator/Active filter (IDEA) for wind energy conversion systems is proposed. The proposed IDEA is capable of simultaneous capturing maximum power of wind energy and improving power quality, which are achieved by canceling the most significant and troublesome harmonics of the utility grid and power factor correction and reactive power compensation in the grid. The back-to-back current regulated power converters are employed to excite the rotor of IDEA. The control strategy of rotor-side power converter is based on position sensoreless field oriented control method with higher power density. Analysis and experimental results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed IDEA. In next step, an integrated synchronous machine/active filter is discussed. The proposed technology is essentially a rotating synchronous machine with suitable modification to its field excitation circuit to allow dc and ac excitations. It is shown that by controlling the ac excitation, the 5th and 7th harmonics currents of the utility are compensated. The proposed method is cost effective because it can be applied to existing standby generators in commercial and industrial plants with minimal modification to the excitation circuits. To boost the gain of harmonic compensatory, an advanced electric machine is proposed. An Asymmetric Airgap Concentrated Winding Synchronous Machine (AACWSM) with ac and dc excitation was designed and employed. It is shown that the AACWSM with its unique design, in addition to power generation capability, could be used to compensate the most dominant current harmonics of the utility. The proposed AACWSM can compensate for the 5th and 7th harmonics currents in the grid by controlling the ac field excitation. In addition, the 11th and 13th harmonics currents are also significantly reduced. This system can be used at medium and low voltages for generation or motoring mode of operation

Improved vector control methods for brushless double fed induction generator during inductive load and fault conditions

A Brushless Double-Fed Induction Generator (BDFIG) has shown tremendous success in wind turbines due to its robust brushless design, less maintenance, smooth operation, and variable speed characteristics. These generators are composed of two back-to-back voltage source converters, a Grid Side Converter (GSC) and a Rotor Side Converter (RSC). Existing control techniques use a “trial and error” method that results in a poor dynamic response in machine parameters during the absence of load. The RSC control is used for reactive current control during the inductive load insertion. However, it is more suitable for stabilizing steady-state behaviour, but it suffers from slow response and introduces a double fundamental frequency component to the Point of Common Coupling (PCC) voltage. In addition, generally, a Low Voltage Ride Through (LVRT) fault is detected using a hysteresis comparison of the power winding voltage. The LVRT capability is provided by using fixed reference values to control the winding current. This approach results in an erroneous response, sub-optimal control of voltage drops at PCC, and false alarms during transient conditions. This thesis aims to solve the mentioned issues by using an improved vector control method. Internal Model Control (IMC) based Proportional-Integral (PI) gains calculation is used for GSC and RSC. These are controlled to enhance the transient response and power quality during no-load, inductive load, and fault conditions. Firstly, a GSC-based vector control method is proposed to suppress the PCC voltage fluctuations when a large inductive load is suddenly connected. The proposed technique is based on an analytical model of the transient behaviour of the voltage drop at the PCC. To block a double fundamental frequency component as a result of reactive current compensation, a notch filter is designed. Secondly, an RSC-based vector control method is proposed using an analytical model of the voltage drop caused by a short circuit. Moreover, using a fuzzy logic controller, the proposed technique employs the voltage frequency in addition to the power winding voltage magnitude to detect LVRT conditions. The analytical model helps in reducing the power winding voltage drop while the fuzzy logic controller leads to better response and faster detection of faults. However, the reference value for reactive current compensation is analysed using an analytical model of the voltage drop at the PCC in the event of a short-circuit fault. The results obtained from MATLAB/Simulink show that the GSC-based vector control method technique can effectively reduce about 10% voltage drop at PCCs. Total Harmonics Distortion (THD) is improved to 22.3% by notch filter in comparison with an existing technique such as instantaneous reactive power theory. The RSC-based vector control method can achieve up to 11% voltage drop reduction and improve the THD by 12% compared to recent synchronous control and flux tracking methods

Doubly-Fed Induction Machines: Model, Control and Applications

Renewable energy resources far outweigh fossil fuels in several terms of benefits, i.e. environmentally friendly, and economically. Wind Energy Conversion Systems are the fastest grown units among renewables within recent years. Due to large penetration of wind units in nowadays power systems, some specific regulations have been issued through modern national grid codes to manage their technical commitments. Low Voltage Ride Through (LVRT), as one of the most important requirements, asks wind units to ride through some predefined grid low voltage conditions in terms of amplitude reduction and time duration, mainly caused by different types of balanced and/or unbalanced power network faults. Doubly-Fed Induction Generators (DFIGs) as the most popular machines among the current driven wind turbines, are electrically connected to the grid through a three-phase winding placed at stator, while rotor is electromagnetically connected to stator. Hence, a sudden reduction of voltage profile, will trigger large current/flux oscillations in the machine, may hit the physical limits and consequently, violate grid codes. The main topic of this thesis is modeling and control of DFIG-based wind turbine systems to substantiate LVRT requirements without imposing any additional hardware to installed components. To achieve this objective, system/control theory tools are applied to investigate the effects of grid faults on DFIG dynamics, and design proper control-based countermeasures. More specifically, taking advantage from analyzing the internal dynamics of DFIG, various feedforward-feedback controllers have been designed to deal with line faults having increasing complexity. A crucial role in such approach is played by a suitable state reference trajectory design, based on the feature of the DFIG internal dynamics. Such kind of method has been applied to deal with the mechanical dynamics, as well. Numerical realistic simulations validate the benefits of the proposed controller, in crucially improving the machine response under severe grid faults

Modelling and practical set-up to investigate the performance of permanent magnet synchronous motor through rotor position estimation at zero and low speeds

This thesis provides a study for the rotor position estimation in SM-PMSMs, particularly at zero and low speeds. The method for zero rotor speed is based on injection of three high frequency voltage pulses in the motor stator windings. Then, the voltage responses at the motor terminals are exploited to extract the rotor position. Two approaches, modelling and practical implementations, are presented. The obtained results have showed a verification of a high-resolution position estimation (a position estimation of 1 degree angle), a simplicity and cost effective implementation and a no need for current sensors is required to achieve the estimation process. It should be noticed that the implementation of rotor position estimation at zero speed is only attended when the rotor is at standstill or very low speed. Therefore, the motor driver is not expected to be active at this condition. Thereby, the zero speed estimation does not provide a robust torque control. In future, this should be taking into consideration to overcome this drawback and to make the estimator more reliable. At low speed running, the primary goal is to start spinning the under test motors, and then the rotor position estimation is achieved. The motor spinning is based on adopting a virtual injected signal to generate the voltage components, Vα and Vβ, of the space vector pulse width modulation technique. Then, generating the eight space vectors is conducted through storing the standard patterns of the six space vector sectors in a memory structure together with the timing sequences of each sector. The presented strategy of motor running includes a proposed motor speed control scheme, which is based on controlling the frequency of the power signal, at the inverter output, through controlling the timing period of execution the power delivery program. The thesis presents a proposed method to achieve the estimation goal depends on tracking the magnetic saliency on one motor line voltage. Thereby, the rotor position estimation The introduced proposed method, for rotor position estimation at zero speed, verifies the following contributions: - Presents a simple and cost effective zero speed rotor position estimator for the motor under test. - The aimed resolution in this thesis is an angle 1 degree. IV - Adopting solely the measuring of motor terminal voltages. Eliminating the detection of the rotor magnet polarity as a necessary technique for completing the position estimation. At low speed running, the following contributions are verified: - Rather than a real frequency signal, a virtual injected signal is adopted to generate the voltage components, Vα and Vβ of the space vector pulse width modulation technique. - The proposed method for generating the eight space vectors is based on storing the standard patterns of the six sectors in a memory structure together with the timing sequence. - The strategy of motor speed control is based on controlling the period of execution the power delivery program. - The strategy of low speed rotor position employs one motor line voltage from which the low speed estimation is achieved

Grid Connected Doubly Fed Induction Generator Based Wind Turbine under LVRT

This project concentrates on the Low Voltage Ride Through (LVRT) capability of Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG) wind turbine. The main attention in the project is, therefore, drawn to the control of the DFIG wind turbine and of its power converter and to the ability to protect itself without disconnection during grid faults. It provides also an overview on the interaction between variable speed DFIG wind turbines and the power system subjected to disturbances, such as short circuit faults. The dynamic model of DFIG wind turbine includes models for both mechanical components as well as for all electrical components, controllers and for the protection device of DFIG necessary during grid faults. The viewpoint of this project is to carry out different simulations to provide insight and understanding of the grid fault impact on both DFIG wind turbines and on the power system itself. The dynamic behavior of DFIG wind turbines during grid faults is simulated and assessed by using a transmission power system generic model developed and delivered by Transmission System Operator in the power system simulation toolbox Digsilent, Matlab/Simulink and PLECS

High Performance Control Techniques for Multiphase eDrives

L'abstract è presente nell'allegato / the abstract is in the attachmen