Theoretical analysis of control properties for the brushless doubly fed reluctance machine

Presents the fundamental theory, modelling aspects and operating/control principles of the BDFRM. This emerging machine technology is being regarded by academic and industrial communities as a prospective brushless candidate for wind turbine generators (especially off-shore installations) and large pump drives where it can offer reliable, maintenance-free, operation and competitive performance at low cost due to the use of a smaller inverter. The results in the paper are the outcomes of a joint research project (Australian Research Council - ARC funded) of the author

Control strategies for brushless doubly fed reluctance machines

Paper presents the development and results of comprehensive comparative analysis of different vector control strategies for performance optimisation of the BDFRM being considered as a viable cost-effective brushless alternative to traditional brush and less reliable solutions in applications with limited variable speed ranges (such as wind turbines). Australian Research Council and EPSRC projects

Improved direct torque control using Kalman filter: application to a doubly-fed machine

Direct Torque Control (DTC) has been extensively researched and applied during the last two decades. However, it has only first been applied to the Brushless Doubly Fed Reluctance Machine (BDFRM) a few years ago in its basic form inheriting its intrinsic flux estimation problems that propagate throughout the algorithm and hence compromise the DTC performance. In this paper, we propose the use of Kalman Filter (KF) as an alternative to improve the estimation and consequently the control performance of the DTC. The KF is designed around a nominal model, but is shown to be reliable over the whole operating range of the BDFRM. Moreover, we use a modified robust exact differentiator based on Sliding Mode (SM) techniques to calculate the angular velocity from an angular position encoder. Computer simulations are meticulously designed to take into account real-world physical constraints and thus show illustrative supporting results as expected from an experimental setup

Flux observer algorithms for direct torque control of brushless doubly-fed reluctance machines

Direct Torque Control (DTC) has been extensively researched and applied to most AC machines during the last two decades. Its first application to the Brushless Doubly-Fed Reluctance Machine (BDFRM), a promising cost-effective candidate for drive and generator systems with limited variable speed ranges (such as large pumps or wind turbines), has only been reported a few years ago. However, the original DTC scheme has experienced flux estimation problems and compromised performance under the maximum torque per inverter ampere (MTPIA) conditions. This deficiency at low current and torque levels may be overcome and much higher accuracy achieved by alternative estimation approaches discussed in this paper using Kalman Filter (KF) and/or Sliding Mode Observer (SMO). Computer simulations accounting for real-time constraints (e.g. measurement noise, transducer DC offset etc.) have produced realistic results similar to those one would expect from an experimental setup

Wind power applications of doubly-fed reluctance generators with parameter-free hysteresis control

The development and practical implementation aspects of a novel scheme for fast power control of the doubly-fed reluctance generator with a low-cost partially-rated converter, a promising brushless candidate for limited speed ranges of wind turbines, are presented in this paper. The proposed concept is derived from the fundamental dynamic analogies between the controllable and measurable properties of the machine: electro-magnetic torque and electrical power, and flux and reactive power. The algorithm is applied in a stationary reference frame without any knowledge of the machine parameters, including rotor angular position or velocity. It is then structurally simpler, easier to realize in real-time and more tolerant of the system operating uncertainties than model-based or proportional-integral control alternatives. Experimental results have demonstrated the excellent controller response for a variety of speed, load and/or power factor states of a custom-built generator prototype

Maximum power point tracking for variable-speed fixed-pitch small wind turbines

Variable-speed, fixed-pitch wind turbines are required to optimize power output performance without the aerodynamic controls. A wind turbine generator system is operated such that the optimum points of wind rotor curve and electrical generator curve coincide. In order to obtain maximum power output of a wind turbine generator system, it is necessary to drive the wind turbine at an optimal rotor speed for a particular wind speed. In fixed-pitch variablespeed wind turbines, wind-rotor performance is fixed and the restoring torque of the generator needs to be adjusted to maintain optimum rotor speed at a particular wind speed for maximum aerodynamic power output. In turbulent wind environment, control of wind turbine systems to continuously operate at the maximum power points becomes difficult due to fluctuation of wind speeds. Therefore, special emphasis is given to operating at maximum aerodynamic power points of wind rotor. In this paper, the performance of a Fuzzy Logic Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) controller is investigated for applications on variable-speed fixed-pitch small- scale wind turbines

Predictive control of wind turbines by considering wind speed forecasting techniques

A wind turbine system is operated such that the points of wind rotor curve and electrical generator curve coincide. In order to obtain maximum power output of a wind turbine generator system, it is necessary to drive the wind turbine at an optimal rotor speed for a particular wind speed. A Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) controller is used for this purpose. In fixed-pitch variable-speed wind turbines, wind-rotor parameters are fixed and the restoring torque of the generator needs to be adjusted to maintain optimum rotor speed at a particular wind speed for optimum power output. In turbulent wind environment, control of variable-speed fixed-pitch wind turbine systems to continuously operate at the maximum power points becomes difficult due to fluctuation of wind speeds. In this paper, wind speed forecasting techniques will be considered for predictive optimum control system of wind turbines

Encoderless direct torque controller for limited speed range applications of brushless doubly-fed reluctance motors

Presents the experimental verification of a new sensor-less control algorithm for direct torque (and flux) control (DTC) of the BDFRM in low variable frequency applications (e.g. wind energy conversion systems) where the low cost potential of the machine can be best exploited by using partially-rated power electronics. Brings a significant contribution to knowledge in the subject field as the proposed scheme has many important advantages over its counterparts in the target applications. Represents one of the main achievements of the aforementioned EPSRC project

Emerging Multiport Electrical Machines and Systems: Past Developments, Current Challenges, and Future Prospects

Distinct from the conventional machines with only one electrical and one mechanical port, electrical machines featuring multiple electrical/mechanical ports (the so-called multiport electrical machines) provide a compact, flexible, and highly efficient manner to convert and/or transfer energies among different ports. This paper attempts to make a comprehensive overview of the existing multiport topologies, from fundamental characteristics to advanced modeling, analysis, and control, with particular emphasis on the extensively investigated brushless doubly fed machines for highly reliable wind turbines and power split devices for hybrid electric vehicles. A qualitative review approach is mainly adopted, but strong efforts are also made to quantitatively highlight the electromagnetic and control performance. Research challenges are identified, and future trends are discussed