The impact of wind generators on a Powe system's transient stability

This thesis discusses the investigations carried out on the different types of wind generators and how these would affect the transient stability of a hypothetical power network as presented in this report. Focus was on the transient responses of the conventional synchronous generator’s rotor angle and terminal voltage when connected to different types of wind generators. The three different wind generator technologies explored were the squirrel cage induction generator (SCIG), doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) and the converter driven synchronous generator (CDSG)

Nonlinear transient and steady state analysis for self-excited single-phase synchronous reluctance generator

With today\u27s trend for distributed generation and the need for alternative and renewable energy sources, self-excited induction and synchronous reluctance generators have attracted more attention for wind, tidal and hydro power generation applications. Compared to synchronous and DC generators, they have the advantages: they are brushless, they are robust, they do not need DC excitation and they are relatively low cost.;Compared with SEIG, the self-excited reluctance generator (SERG) not only has the advantages of simplicity and ruggedness, but can also have enhanced steady-state characteristics and high efficiency over a wide range of operation. Moreover, its output frequency is determined only by the prime mover speed, rather than by both the load and the prime mover speed as in an induction generator, so SERG can be easily integrated with power electronic devices to implement a control scheme.;Most of the current analyses deal with three-phase reluctance generators, but insufficient attention has been paid to single-phase self-excited reluctance generators (SPSERG). Their unbalanced loads make their analysis more difficult. This research is motivated by the fact that SPSERG provides a good alternative to single-phase induction generators used in stand-alone generation applications. A general methodology is suggested for transient response prediction and steady state performance analysis for the SPSERG type of electric machine.;To establish a design environment, finite element method is an effective tool, which can be integrated in machine modeling to obtain good performance prediction. In this work, an off-line FEM approach is proposed to obtain the saturation characteristics for state space simulation. During the process, transformation between instantaneous inductance and average inductance is investigated. Off-line FEM + SS approach is proved to be a simple and economic method and can fit the experimental results in good accuracy.;Moreover, a steady state model has to be built to reveal the parametric dependence and provide good design guidance. However, because of the unbalanced load and nonlinear feature of the machine, existing models are not suitable for analysis. In this dissertation, a novel inductance-oriented steady state model based on the harmonic balance technique is introduced. The idea is that starting from the inductance determination under certain load, the fluxes can be attained by a nonlinear relationship, after that, the machine variables can be solved according to the fluxes. Comparison between simulation and experiment validates this approach

Torque Control

This book is the result of inspirations and contributions from many researchers, a collection of 9 works, which are, in majority, focalised around the Direct Torque Control and may be comprised of three sections: different techniques for the control of asynchronous motors and double feed or double star induction machines, oriented approach of recent developments relating to the control of the Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors, and special controller design and torque control of switched reluctance machine

Hardware in the loop, all-electronic wind turbine emulator for grid compliance testing

During the last years the distribution of renewable energy sources is continuously increasing and their influence on the distribution grid is becoming every year more relevant. As the increasing integration of renewable resources is radically changing the grid scenario, grid code technical requirements as are needed to ensure the grid correct behavior. To be standard compliant wind turbines need to be submitted to certification tests which usually must be performed on the field. One of the most difficult tests to be performed on the field is the low voltage ride through (LVRT) certitication due to the following resons: • The standards specify it must be performed ad different power levels. For this reasons it is necessary to wait for the right atmospheric conditions. • It requires a voltage sag generator which is usually expensive and bulky. • The voltage sag generator needs to be cabled between the grid and the wind turbine. • The voltage sag generator causes disturbances and perturbation on the power grid, for this reasons agreements with the distributor operator are needed. For all these reasons a laboratory test bench to perform the LVRT certification tests on wind turbines would be a more controlled and inexpensive alternative to the classic testing methodology. The research presented in this thesis is focused on the design and the realization of a test bench to perform certification tests on energy converters for wind turbines in laboratory. More specifically, the possibility of performing LVRT certification tests directly in laboratory over controlled conditions would allow faster testing procedures and less certification overall costs. The solution presented in this thesis is based on a power hardware in the loop implementing a digitally-controlled, power electronics-based emulation of a wind turbine. This emulator is used to drive the electronic wind energy converter (WEC) under test. A grid emulator is used to apply voltage sags to the wind turbine converter and perform LVRT certification tests. In this solution AC power supplies are used to emulate both the wind turbine and the grid emulator. For this reason the test bench power rating is limited to the AC supplies one. Two working versions of the test bench has been realized and successfully tested. The work here presented has evolved through the following phases: • Study of the grid code requirements and the state of the art. • Modeling of the parts of a wind turbine and complete system simulations

High Performance Switched Reluctance Drives

PhD ThesisThe fully-pitched winding arrangement is one of the most radical changes in the design of doubly-salient reluctance motors in recent times. By replacing conventional shortpitched windings with fully-pitched windings, the resulting machine has a strong and position dependant mutual coupling between phases. The major torque producing mechanism is due to changes in mutual inductance with rotor position. This enables the windings to be better utilised, and with correct selection of excitation all phases can contribute useful torque all of the time. The increased winding utilisation requires a lower MMF per phase in comparison with a short-pitch wound machine with a single phase excited. Given a suitable winding configuration and machine dimensions, the copper losses for a given torque can be significantly lower than an equivalent conventional switched reluctance machine. Operation of a three phase fully-pitched winding switched reluctance machine has been studied theoretically, in simulation and experimentally. The experimental drive comprises of a D132 frame 12:8 machine, IGBT power converter and DSP controller. Operation with unipolar phase currents has been investigated over a wide speed range and performance compared with a conventional switched reluctance machine. Bipolar operation with several different excitation patterns has been investigated. Unipolar operation gives the largest torque/speed envelope with a simple controller, although bipolar modes can equal this with a more complex controller. Results show that for equal RMS phase current the average torque produced by four different modes of excitation are approximately equal. However, there is a large difference in the torque ripple and acoustic noise performance of each mode. Current control in switched reluctance machines is complicated by the non-linear nature of the load. By controlling flux-linkage rather than current a linear load model can be used. A discrete time 'dead-beat' flux-linkage controller has been implemented which gives superior phase current control performance to other types of controller with the same sample interval. A new method of constant torque operation based on 'flux ramps' has been proposed. This method gives predictable performance and enables constant torque operation over a wide speed range. A Genetic Algorithm has been shown to be very effective when applied to the problem of optimising the 'flux ramps' for minimum torque ripple. A speed controller has been implemented which makes use of the Genetic Algorithm optimised flux ramps to give smooth torque over a wide speed range.Royal Societ

Renewable Energy

Renewable Energy is energy generated from natural resources - such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat - which are naturally replenished. In 2008, about 18% of global final energy consumption came from renewables, with 13% coming from traditional biomass, such as wood burning. Hydroelectricity was the next largest renewable source, providing 3% (15% of global electricity generation), followed by solar hot water/heating, which contributed with 1.3%. Modern technologies, such as geothermal energy, wind power, solar power, and ocean energy together provided some 0.8% of final energy consumption. The book provides a forum for dissemination and exchange of up - to - date scientific information on theoretical, generic and applied areas of knowledge. The topics deal with new devices and circuits for energy systems, photovoltaic and solar thermal, wind energy systems, tidal and wave energy, fuel cell systems, bio energy and geo-energy, sustainable energy resources and systems, energy storage systems, energy market management and economics, off-grid isolated energy systems, energy in transportation systems, energy resources for portable electronics, intelligent energy power transmission, distribution and inter - connectors, energy efficient utilization, environmental issues, energy harvesting, nanotechnology in energy, policy issues on renewable energy, building design, power electronics in energy conversion, new materials for energy resources, and RF and magnetic field energy devices

A matrix converter drive system for an aircraft rudder electro-mechanical actuator

The matrix converter is an attractive topology of power converter for the Aerospace Industry where factors such as the absence of electrolytic capacitors, the potentiality of increasing power density, reducing size and weight and good input power quality are fundamental. The matrix converter potential advantages offers the possibility to achieve the aim of the More Electric Aircraft research which intends to gradually re- place, from the aircraft architecture, the hydraulic power source and its infrastructure with electric power generation and a more flexible power distribution system. The purpose of this work is to investigate the design and implementation of a 40kVA matrix converter for an Electro Mechanical Actuator (EMA) drive system. A SABER simulation analysis of the candidate matrix converter drive systems, for this application, is provided. The design and implementation of the matrix converter is described, with particular attention to the strict requirements of the given aerospace application. Finally, the matrix converter PMSM drive system and the EMA drive system are respectively assembled, tested and commissioned