Modelling and Stability Analysis of Brushless Doubly Fed Generators

The brushless doubly-fed machine (BDFM) continues to attract increasing interest for applications in wind generation where, robustness and low servicing costs are its principles advantages. The construction aspect of the BDFM has been widely studied and currently this machine can be build with good performances. However, the control aspect remains difficult to achieve and some studies show that the BDFM is less stable than the doubly-fed induction machine. To explore the BDFM stability in all operating mode, this paper proposes a stability analysis of a grid-connected variable speed wind turbine-based BDFM. For this purpose, a linearized small signals mathematical model is proposed which takes into account both grid and control disturbances. Then, the effect of electrical parameters variation and operating speed change on the stability of the BDFM has been studied. The stability has been investigated through simulation implementation. The obtained results demonstrate the validity and the superiority of the proposed model

A Hybrid Method of Performing Electric Power System Fault Ride-Through Evaluations on Medium Voltage Multi-Megawatt Devices

This dissertation explores the design and analysis of a Hybrid Method of performing electrical power system fault ride-through evaluations on multi-megawatt, medium voltage power conversion equipment. Fault ride-through evaluations on such equipment are needed in order to verify and validate full scale designs prior to being implemented in the field. Ultimately, these evaluations will help in reducing the deployment risks associated with bringing new technologies into the marketplace. This is especially true for renewable energy and utility scale energy storage systems, where a significant amount of attention in recent years has focused on their ever increasing role in power system security and stability. The Hybrid Method couples two existing technologies together - a reactive voltage divider network and a power electronic variable voltage source - in order to overcome the inherent limitation of both methods, namely the short circuit duty required for implementation. This work provides the background of this limitation with respect to the existing technologies and demonstrates that the Hybrid Method can minimize the fault duty required for fault evaluations. The physical system, control objectives, and operation cycle of the Hybrid Method are analyzed with respect to the overall objective of reducing the fault duty of the system. A vector controller is designed to incorporate the time variant nature of the Hybrid Method operation cycle, limit the fault current seen by the power electronic variable voltage source, and provide regulation of the voltage at the point of common coupling with the device being evaluated. In order to verify the operation of both the Hybrid Method physical system and vector controller, a controller hardware-in-the-loop experiment is created in order to simulate the physical system in real-time against the prototype implementation of the vector controller. The physical system is simulated in a Real Time Digital Simulator and is controlled with the Hybrid Method vector controller implemented on a National Instruments FPGA. In order to evaluate the complete performance of the Hybrid Method, both a synchronous generator and a doubly-fed induction generator are modeled as the device under test in the simulations of the physical system. Finally, the results of the controller hardware-in-the-loop experiments are presented which demonstrate that the Hybrid Method is a viable solution to performing fault ride-through evaluations on multi-megawatt, medium voltage power conversion equipment

The application of advanced signal processing techniques to the condition monitoring of electrical machine drive systems

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 128-129).The thesis examines the use of two time-frequency domain signal processing tools in its application to condition monitoring of electrical machine drive systems. The mathematical and signal processing tools which are explored are wavelet analysis and a non-stationary adaptive signal processing algorithm. Four specific applications are identified for the research. These applications were specifically chosen to encapsulate important issues in condition monitoring of variable speed drive systems. The main aim of the project is to highlight the need for fault detection during machine transients and to illustrate the effectiveness of incorporating and adapting these new class of algorithms to detect faults in electrical machine drive systems during non-stationary conditions

Converter fault diagnosis and post-fault operation of a doubly-fed induction generator for a wind turbine

Wind energy has become one of the most important alternative energy resources because of the global warming crisis. Wind turbines are often erected off-shore because of favourable wind conditions, requiring lower towers than on-shore. The doubly-fed induction generator is one of the most widely used generators with wind turbines. In such a wind turbine the power converters are less robust than the generator and other mechanical parts. If any switch failure occurs in the converters, the wind turbine may be seriously damaged and have to stop. Therefore, converter health monitoring and fault diagnosis are important to improve system reliability. Moreover, to avoid shutting down the wind turbine, converter fault diagnosis may permit a change in control strategy and/or reconfigure the power converters to permit post-fault operation. This research focuses on switch fault diagnosis and post-fault operation for the converters of the doubly-fed induction generator. The effects of an open-switch fault and a short-circuit switch fault are analysed. Several existing open-switch fault diagnosis methods are examined but are found to be unsuitable for the doubly-fed induction generator. The causes of false alarms with these methods are investigated. A proposed diagnosis method, with false alarm suppression, has the fault detection capability equivalent to the best of the existing methods, but improves system reliability. After any open-switch fault is detected, reconfiguration to a four-switch topology is activated to avoid shutting down the system. Short-circuit switch faults are also investigated. Possible methods to deal with this fault are discussed and demonstrated in simulation. Operating the doubly-fed induction generator as a squirrel cage generator with aerodynamic power control of turbine blades is suggested if this fault occurs in the machine-side converter, while constant dc voltage control is suitable for a short-circuit switch fault in the grid-side converter.Wind energy has become one of the most important alternative energy resources because of the global warming crisis. Wind turbines are often erected off-shore because of favourable wind conditions, requiring lower towers than on-shore. The doubly-fed induction generator is one of the most widely used generators with wind turbines. In such a wind turbine the power converters are less robust than the generator and other mechanical parts. If any switch failure occurs in the converters, the wind turbine may be seriously damaged and have to stop. Therefore, converter health monitoring and fault diagnosis are important to improve system reliability. Moreover, to avoid shutting down the wind turbine, converter fault diagnosis may permit a change in control strategy and/or reconfigure the power converters to permit post-fault operation. This research focuses on switch fault diagnosis and post-fault operation for the converters of the doubly-fed induction generator. The effects of an open-switch fault and a short-circuit switch fault are analysed. Several existing open-switch fault diagnosis methods are examined but are found to be unsuitable for the doubly-fed induction generator. The causes of false alarms with these methods are investigated. A proposed diagnosis method, with false alarm suppression, has the fault detection capability equivalent to the best of the existing methods, but improves system reliability. After any open-switch fault is detected, reconfiguration to a four-switch topology is activated to avoid shutting down the system. Short-circuit switch faults are also investigated. Possible methods to deal with this fault are discussed and demonstrated in simulation. Operating the doubly-fed induction generator as a squirrel cage generator with aerodynamic power control of turbine blades is suggested if this fault occurs in the machine-side converter, while constant dc voltage control is suitable for a short-circuit switch fault in the grid-side converter

Power Converter of Electric Machines, Renewable Energy Systems, and Transportation

Power converters and electric machines represent essential components in all fields of electrical engineering. In fact, we are heading towards a future where energy will be more and more electrical: electrical vehicles, electrical motors, renewables, storage systems are now widespread. The ongoing energy transition poses new challenges for interfacing and integrating different power systems. The constraints of space, weight, reliability, performance, and autonomy for the electric system have increased the attention of scientific research in order to find more and more appropriate technological solutions. In this context, power converters and electric machines assume a key role in enabling higher performance of electrical power conversion. Consequently, the design and control of power converters and electric machines shall be developed accordingly to the requirements of the specific application, thus leading to more specialized solutions, with the aim of enhancing the reliability, fault tolerance, and flexibility of the next generation power systems

Brushless Doubly-Fed Reluctance Machines for Aerospace Electrical Power Generation Systems

This thesis describes a programme of research encompassing the design, optimisation and experimental testing of a brushless doubly fed reluctance machine (BDFRM) for use as an aerospace electrical generator, specifically a direct line connected generator, to widen the input shaft speed beyond the normal constraints imposed by the 360-800Hz specification for a variable-frequency AC aerospace network. BDFRMs offer the functionality of frequency correction, via a control winding, and have the advantage of using a robust reluctance rotor. A partially-rated control winding converter can, in principle, be used to provide the slip power required. A further advantage of the BDFRM is the inherent fail-safe nature of these machines, with the output voltage collapsing as soon as the control winding current has been removed. A synchronous reluctance machine was studied as a means of providing a baseline for the BDFRM performance, including a comparison of the effect of scaling on power density. A large number of time-stepped finite element simulations were undertaken to explore BDFRM performance, in particular, the influence of magnetic saturation in limiting the achievable power density and in compromising power quality. Detailed optimisation of a BDFRM was undertaken, including systematic mechanical design of the rotor for high speed operation. This analysis illustrates the significant compromises in machine electromagnetic performance which result from the need to accommodate mechanical stress. The scope for employing small amounts of permanent magnet material in the rotors of both synchronous reluctance machines and BDFRMs, to improve the machine performance at the lower end of the current density range, was investigated. Following detailed optimisation, a demonstrator machine was manufactured, which includes a skewed rotor. The performance of this machine was measured at a number of test points to verify predictions of output power, voltage and voltage harmonics