Open access peer-reviewed chapter

Active and Reactive Power Control of Wound Rotor Induction Generators by Using the Computer and Driver

Written By

Fevzi Kentli

Submitted: 15 November 2014 Reviewed: 29 June 2015 Published: 18 November 2015

DOI: 10.5772/61130

From the Edited Volume

Induction Motors - Applications, Control and Fault Diagnostics

Edited by Raul Igmar Gregor Recalde

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Abstract

In this chapter, a power control system for a wound rotor induction generator has been explained. This power control system has realized a control method using a rotating reference frame fixed on the air-gap flux of the generator. Application of such a system allows control of the active and reactive power of generators independently and stably. So, a two-step process is presented here. The first step is to acquire the complex power expression (and thus the active and reactive power expressions) for an induction machine in space vector notation and in two-axes system. Then, a computer aided circuit is given to realize the power and current control by analyzing them. Also, the results of an experiment given in literature are shown to be able to compare the results.

Keywords

  • Doubly-fed wound rotor
  • Induction generator
  • Active and reactive power control

1. Introduction

Energy is defined as the capacity of a body to do mechanical work. Energy is preserved in earth in many different forms, such as solid (coal), liquid (petroleum), and gas (natural gas). Also, several resources are available such as solar, wind, wave, geothermal, and nuclear energy. On the other hand, energy cannot be found in nature in electrical form. However, electric energy has many advantages: easy to transmit at long distances and complying with customer’s needs through adequate control.

More than 30% of energy is converted into electrical energy before usage by the help of electric generators that convert mechanical energy into electric energy [1]. There are two kinds of electric generators: synchronous generators and induction generators. Generally, synchronous generators are generally used in big power plants to produce electricity. On the other hand, induction generators are used in utilizing nonstable small energy resources such as uncontrollable and automatically load-regulated small running water and wind turbines (plants) [2, 3]. Wind turbines have become much more popular due to the increasing demand for clean energy. Due to expensive production and maintenance costs, multiwatt turbines/wind farms are preferred. Configurations of generators and their controllers differ. Squirrel cage generators, wound rotor generators, permanent magnet generators, DC generators, and variable reluctance generators are operated in these systems. But nowadays a kind of wound rotor, doubly-fed induction generator, has begun to be used more [4].

Both, the synchronous generator with rotating DC magnetic field and the induction generator, have similar fixed stator winding arrangement, which, when energized by a rotating magnetic field, produces a three-phase (or single phase) voltage output. However, the rotors of the two machines are quite different, with the rotor of an induction generator typically consisting of one of two types of arrangements: “squirrel cage” or a “wound rotor.” Also, unlike the synchronous generator that has to be “synchronized” with the electrical grid before it can generate power, induction generator can be connected directly to the utility grid and driven directly by the turbines rotor blades at variable wind or running water speeds. Induction motor is an economical and reliable choice as generator in many wind and running water power turbines where its rotational speed, performance, and efficiency can be increased by coupling a mechanical gearbox.

Being cheap, reliable, and readily available in a wide power range from fractional horse power to multi-megawatt capacities leads squirrel cage induction motor type machines to be used in both domestic and commercial renewable energy/running water power applications. The features that make this motor desirable make also the induction generator desirable over other types of generators. Generally, induction generators are constructed based on the squirrel cage induction motor type.

However, the induction generator may provide the necessary power directly to the mains utility grid, but it also needs reactive power to its supply which is provided by the utility grid. Stand-alone (off-grid) operation of the induction generator is also possible but the disadvantage here is that the generator requires additional capacitors connected to its windings for self-excitation.

Three-phase induction machines are very well-suited for wind power and even hydroelectric (running water) generation. Induction machines, when functioning as generators, have a fixed stator and a rotational rotor, the same as that for the synchronous generator. However, excitation (creation of a magnetic field) of the rotor is performed differently and typical designs of the rotors are the squirrel-cage structure where conducting bars are embedded within the rotors’ body and connected together at their ends by shorting rings and the wound (slip-ring) rotor structure that carries a normal 3-ph winding, connected in star or delta and terminated on three slip-rings, which are short- circuited when the machine is in normal operation.

Induction machines are also known as asynchronous machines, that is, they rotate below synchronous speed when used as a motor and above its synchronous speed by some prime mover when used as a generator. The prime mover may be a turbine, an engine, a windmill, or anything that is capable of supplying the torque and speed needed to drive the motor into the overspeed condition. So when rotated faster than its normal operating or no-load speed, induction generator produces AC electricity. In this position, the speed is hypersynchronous, the slip is negative (and usually small), the rotor e.m.f.s and currents have such direction as to demand active power output from the stator terminals. But magnetization is still dependent on the stator winding accepting reactive power for this purpose from the electrical source, so that the induction generator can only operate when connected to a live and synchronous AC system. If a lagging reactive power input is equated with a leading reactive power output, then the generator can be described as operating with a lending power factor. The torque acts in a direction opposite to that of the rotating field, requiring a mechanical drive at the shaft. Because an induction generator synchronizes directly with the main utility grid– that is, produces electricity at the same frequency and voltage – no rectifiers or inverters are required. A major advantage of the induction generator is frequency regulation. The output frequency and volts are regulated by the power system in the induction generators and are independent of speed variations. The self-regulation effect minimizes control system complexity. But the performance characteristics as a generator will vary slightly from those as a motor. In general, the slip rpm and power factor will be lower and the efficiency will be higher. The differences may be so insignificant as to be undetectable by normal field measuring methods. On the other hand, alongside advantages mentioned above of the squirrel-cage and wound rotor induction generators whose rotor windings are short- circuited, there are some disadvantages [2, 3]. For example, the active and reactive power of generators cannot be controlled independently and stably. A computer and a cycloconverter in rotor circuit are needed to accomplish this task.

In recent years, there has been an increased attention toward wind power generation. Conventionally, grid-connected cage rotor induction machines are used as wind generators at medium power level. When connected to the constant frequency network, the induction generator runs at near-synchronous speed drawing the magnetizing current from the mains, thereby resulting in constant-speed constant-frequency (CSCF) operation. However, the power capture due to fluctuating wind speed can be substantially improved if there is flexibility in varying the shaft speed. In such variable-speed constant-frequency (VSCF) application, rotor-side control of grid-connected wound rotor induction machine is an attractive solution [5]. A doubly-fed wound rotor induction generator can produce constant stator frequency even though rotor speed varies. This system can be controlled by a small-capacity converter compared with the generator capacity, when the control range speed is narrow. Because of these features, this system is currently considered to be adaptable to power systems for hydroelectric and wind-mill-type power plants [6-8].

When adapted to the power system, it is important to examine the effects of this system on the power system. In the system under consideration, the stator is directly connected to the three-phase grid and the rotor of the doubly-fed induction machine is excited by three-phase low-frequency AC currents, which are supplied via slip-rings by either a cycloconverter or a voltage–fed PWM rectifier-inverter. The AC excitation on the basis of a rotor-position feedback loop makes it possible to achieve stable variable-speed operation. Adjusting the rotor speed makes the induction machine either release the electric power to the utility grid or absorb it from the utility grid [9]. The concept of power control was applied to reactive power compensator applications some 20 years ago, but the application to electrical machine control is new [10].

To control induction generator, several methods are used: electrically [vector control [11], active and reactive power control [12], direct torque control [13], direct power control [14], variable structure or sliding mode control [15], passivity control [16]], and mechanical (pitch, stall, and active stall control [17], yaw control [18], flywheel storage [9]). More information can be found in [19].

In literature, two kinds of approach are proposed for independent control of active and reactive powers. One of them is stator flux oriented vector control with rotor position sensors. The other is position sensorless vector control method. The control with rotor position sensors is the conventional approach and the performance of the system depends on the accuracy of computation of the stator flux and the accuracy of the rotor position information derived from the position encoder. Alignment of the position sensor is, moreover, difficult in a doubly-fed wound rotor machine [5].

Position sensorless vector control methods have been proposed by several research groups in the recent past [20-23]. A dynamic torque angle controller is proposed. This method uses integration of the PWM rotor voltage to compute the rotor flux; hence, satisfactory performance can not be achieved at or near synchronous speed. Most of the other methods proposed make use of the measured rotor current and use coordinate transformations for estimating the rotor position [21-23]. Varying degree of dependence on machine parameters is observed in all these strategies.

Alternative approaches to field-oriented control such as direct self control (DSC) and direct torque control (DTC) have been proposed for cage rotor induction machines. In these strategies, two hysteresis controllers, namely a torque controller and a flux controller, are used to determine the instantaneous switching state for the inverter. These methods of control are computationally very simple and do not require rotor position information. However, the application of such techniques to the control of wound rotor induction machine has not been considered so far. A recently developed algorithm for independent control of active and reactive powers with high dynamic response in case of a wound rotor induction machine is direct power control. In direct power control, the directly controlled quantities are the stator active and reactive powers. The proposed algorithm as direct power control also differs from DTC in that it does not use integration of PWM voltages. Hence, it can work stably even at zero rotor frequency. The method is inherently position sensorless and does not depend on machine parameters like stator/rotor resistance. It can be applied to VSCF applications like wind power generation as well as high-power drives [5].

Little literature has been published on control strategy and dynamic performance of doubly-fed induction machines [22; 24-27]. Leonhard (1985) describes a control strategy for an adjustable-speed doubly-fed induction machine intended for independent control of the active and reactive power. The control strategy provides two kinds of current controllers: inner feedback loops of the rotor currents on the d-q coordinates and outer feedback loops of the stator currents on the M-T coordinates. However, it is not clarified theoretically why the control strategy requires the two kinds of current controllers.

This chapter describes the power control characteristics on the rotating reference frame fixed on the air-gap flux of a doubly-fed wound rotor induction generator and proposes a new approach to control with rotor position sensor. The proposed approach is the enhanced version of a previous study [28]. Thus, in this chapter, a new power control system that has been developed by using the computer and driver for a wound rotor induction generator takes place. This system is a new theoretical approach and this power control system has applied a control method using a rotating reference frame fixed on the air-gap flux of the generator. By using this control system, the active and reactive power of generator can be controlled independently and stably. Therefore, to achieve this purpose, firstly the complex power expression (and thus the active and reactive power expressions) for an induction machine in space vector notation and in two-axis system has been gotten. Then, power and current control, which are fundamental subjects, have been analyzed and as a result a computer- and driver-aided circuit is given to achieve the power and current control.

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2. Analysis of the control system

For the stable control of the active and reactive power, it is necessary to independently control them. As known, the active power control is the control of torque produced by the machine and the reactive power control is the control of flux. The stator active and reactive power of doubly-fed wound rotor induction generator is controlled by regulating the current and voltage of the rotor windings. Therefore, to achieve independent control, the current and voltage of the rotor windings must be divided into components related to stator active and reactive power. It is well-known that an induction machine can be modeled as a voltage behind a total leakage inductance. Therefore, after a three-phase to two-phase power variant transformation, the induction machine model becomes that of Fig. 1 [10].

Approximate vector diagram of an induction machine is shown in Fig. 2. In this section, the analysis of the doubly-fed wound rotor induction generator on the rotating frame fixed on the air-gap flux (M-T frame) is carried out.

Figure 1.

Two-phase representation of a three-phase induction machine (→generating; ⇢ motoring)

Figure 2.

Approximate vector diagram of an induction machine

The M-axis is fixed in the air-gap flux and the T-axis is fixed in the quadrature with the M-axis. The relations of stator α11 axis, rotor α22 axis, and M-T axis are shown in Fig. 3.

Figure 3.

Vector diagram of M-T frame

2.1. Complex power expression

Assuming that the voltage vector is used as the reference for the determination of lagging and leading, we can write the complex stator power expression for a machine in space vector notation as:

S1=I1.U1*E1

which can be written in two-phase stationary frame variables as:

S1=[IM1,T1][UM1,T1]*E2

where

[IM1,T1]=IM1+jIT1;[UM1,T1]*=UM1jUT1BB1

Expanding Equation (2) we get the expressions for the stator active and reactive power as defined in [29]:

S1=UM1IM1+UT1IT1+j(UM1IT1UT1IM1)E3

Therefore,

P1=UM1IM1+UT1IT1E4
Q1=UM1IT1UT1IM1E5

where P1 is the stator active power, and Q1 is the stator reactive power, IM1 and IT1 are the M and T axis stator currents, and UM1 and UT1 are the M and T axis stator voltages.

2.2. Power control

In this section, the relationship between stator power and rotor current is analyzed. In Equations (4) and (5), the stator active and reactive power was expressed by the stator current based on the M-T frame. The relationships between the rotor and stator currents are:

IT1=Iq1CosγId1SinγE6
IT2=Iq2CosγId2SinγE7
IT1+IT2=(Iq1+Iq2)Cosγ(Id1+Id2)SinγE8
Id1=IM1Cosγ ; Id2=IM2CosγE9
Iq1=IM1Sinγ ; Iq2=IM1SinγE10
IT1+IT2=0 ;IT1=IT2E11

By using Equations (9) and (10), the term of (IT1 + IT2) is expressed in terms of ψδ and LM:

IT1+IT2=(ψδLM)SinγCosγ(ψδLM)CosγSinγ=0E12
ψδ=LM(IM1+IM2)E13

where ψδ is the air-gap flux, IM2 and IT2 are the M and T axis rotor currents, and LM is the mutual inductance.

By using Equations (12) and (13), the stator active and reactive power is expressed in terms of ψδ and LM:

P1=UM1[(LM(IM1+IM2)/LM)IM2]+UT1(IT2)P1=(ψδ/LM)UM1UM1IM2UT1IT2 E14
Q1=UM1(IT2)UT1[(LM(IM1+IM2)/LM)IM2]Q1=UT1IM2(ψδ/LM)UT1UM1IT2E15

In this system, the stator winding is directly connected to the power system. The conditions UM1 ≈ 0, UT1 ≈ constant, ψδ ≈ constant are derived from this feature [25]. By using these relationships and Equations (12), (13), (14), and (15), the stator active and reactive power is expressed in terms of rotor current. Equations (4) and (5) are rewritten as follows:

P1UT1IT2E16
Q1UT1IM2(ψδ/LM)UT1E17

Equation (16) shows that the stator active power (P1) is expressed by the terms proportional to the rotor current IT2. Equation (17) shows that the stator reactive power (Q1) is expressed by the terms proportional to the rotor current IM2 and constant value (ψδ/LM).UT1. From the above relationships, the rotor current is divided into the active power (P1) and the reactive power (Q1) components. That is, the independent control of the stator active and reactive power can be actualized by regulating rotor currents IM2 and IT2.

2.3. Current control

In this section, the relation between the rotor currents and the rotor voltages is analyzed. The equations for wound rotor induction machine based on M-T frame are shown as follows:

UM1=R1IM1+L1σdIM1dt(ω1+ωδ)L1σIT1+dψM1δdt(ω1+ωδ)ψT1δE18
UT1=R1IT1+L1σdIT1dt+(ω1+ωδ)L1σIM1+dψT1δdt+(ω1+ωδ)ψM1δE19
UM2=R2IM2+L2σdIM1dt(ωS+ωδ)L2σIT2+dψM2δdt(ωS+ωδ)ψT2δE20
UT2=R2IT2+L2σdIT2dt+(ωS+ωδ)L2σIM2+dψT2δdt+(ωS+ωδ)ψM2δE21

where ψM1δ and ψT1δ are the M and T axis stator air-gap flux, R1 and R2 are the stator and rotor resistance, ω1 is the stator angular speed, ωδ is the angular speed of the air-gap flux, ψM2δ and ψT2δ are the M and T axis rotor air-gap flux, L and L are the stator and rotor leakage inductance, ωS is the slip angular speed.

These equations are transformed by using the relationships ψT1δ = ψT2δ, ψM1δ = ψM2δ, and ωS = ω12, and the following expressions are derived:

UM2=R2IM2+L2σdIM2dt(ωS+ωδ)L2σIT2+dψM1δdt(ωS+ωδ)ψT2δE22
UT2=R2IT2+L2σdIT2dt+(ωS+ωδ)L2σIM2+dψT1δdt+(ωS+ωδ)ψM2δE23
UM2=R2IM2+L2σdIM2dt(ωS+ωδ)L2σIT2+UM1δ+ω2ψT2δE24
UT2=R2IT2+L2σdIT2dt+(ωS+ωδ)L2σIM2+UT1δω2ψM2δE25

where ω2 is the rotor angular speed.

When the Equations (22), (23), (24), and (25) are transformed by the rotor current IM2 and IT2, Equations (26) and (27) are given:

IM2=(UM2+(ωS+ωδ)L2σIT2UM1δ)/(R2+pL2σ)E26
IT2=(UT2(ωS+ωδ)L2σIM2UT1δ+ω2ψδ)/(R2+pL2σ)E27

where p is the differential operator.

The stator winding is directly connected to the power system. Therefore, stator voltage becomes constant in the normal state, leading to the conditions UM1δ ≈ 0 and UT1δ ≈ constant. And L is negligible because it is generally small [25].

Thus, Equations (26) and (27) become as follows:

IM2=UM2/R2E28
IT2=(UT2UT1δ+ω2ψδ)/R2E29

Equations (28) and (29) show that rotor voltages along the M and T axes, respectively depend only on the rotor currents along the M and T axes. In other words, the relationships between the currents and voltages along the M and T axes are linear. Consequently, the rotor currents IM2 and IT2 can be controlled independently by regulating the rotor voltages UM2 and UT2.

2.4. Composition of the control system

Figure 4 illustrates the control system diagram. Considering the analysis of control system, it can be interpreted that M-T frame can be used to describe the composition of the active and the reactive power. Mentioned control system has six parts: (1) power control loop (regulation of the rotor current references from the deviation between detection and reference values for both active and reactive power); (2) current PI regulator for rotor currents IM2 and IT2 (same application with the first part for regulation of the voltage); (3) air-gap flux calculator (using the stator currents, voltages, and the signals of the position sensor); (4) P1 and Q1 detector (calculation of the stator active and reactive power); (5) detector of the rotor current (vector values of M-T axis, Equation (30)); (6) coordinate transformer (three-phase voltage references, Equation (31)) [25].

[IM2IT2]=[Cos(λ+γ)Sin(λ+γ)Sin(λ+γ)Cos(λ+γ)][11/21/203/23/2][Ia2Ib2Ic2]E30
[Ua2Ub2Uc2]=[101/23/21/23/2][Cos(λ+γ)Sin(λ+γ)Sin(λ+γ)Cos(λ+γ)][UM2UT2]E31

Figure 4.

Block diagram of the control system

2.5. Power reference generation

Power Reference Generation (PRG) is one of the key modules of the algorithm. Strangely, it is the only module that depends on the parameter values. Due to direct connection to the torque, active power reference is the simplest way to find out the torque value desired to produce. On the other hand, there are some difficulties related with the active power reference.

Normally, the following equation is enough to calculate active power reference [10]:

Pref=Trefωm2=Tref(2πn2)E32

where Tref is supplied from some outer loop such as a speed control loop, and n2 is the actual mechanical shaft speed at a particular instant of time.

Equation (32) is reliable under some limits so that calculated value of active power is not adequate to generate the torque Tref. Main reason is the losses (losses in the stator and rotor resistance and iron losses) where all input power can not be transmitted to output. Loss in rotor resistance is influenced by the slip of the machine. Schematic demonstration of the power flows under motoring and generating for an induction machine are shown in Fig. 5.

Figure 5.

Schematic demonstration of the power flows in an induction machine under (a) motoring and (b) generating (Pi = input power (taken from supply in motor mode, given from shaft in generator mode), Pm = mechanical power, Pδ = air-gap power (transferred from stator to rotor under motoring and from rotor to stator under generating), Pl = power loss, Pfe = iron loss, Pcu = copper loss, Pa = additional losses produced by harmonics, Pf,w = friction and windage losses, Pel = effective electrical power taken from rotor circuit, Po = output power (shaft power in motor mode, electrical power in generation mode) (1 subscript means stator, 2 subscript means rotor) [28]

As seen in literature, whilst some researchers can assume that the stator resistance power and the iron losses can be ignored (under many practical situations), the power in the rotor resistance cannot be ignored, especially under heavy load conditions when the slip of the machine can be large [10].

As the diagram shows, under the motoring condition the input power separates into two parts: one part is for the losses (stator, iron, and harmonics) and the other part is related with the rotating field power (air-gap power).

Also, under generating the input shaft power separates into two parts: the losses (friction, windage) and mechanical power. All these parts should be balanced to reach the goal power value. To manage this aim, we should be able to calculate the slip and afterward we could calculate required power expressions as follows for the motoring/generating situation (if the friction and windage losses are neglected):

Pref=Pshaft(1s)=Trefωm2(1s)E33

where Pshaft is the desired shaft power, and Pref is the terminal reference power as defined previously.

The reactive power reference generation is linked with the slip. So, first we should deal with it. Figure 2 gives an approximate vector diagram of the voltages, currents, and fluxes of an induction machine. Reactive power can be calculated as the multiplication of the emf voltage E in one axis (e.g. qr) of the machine by the current in the other axis (e.g. dr):

|Q|=ImrEE34
|Q|=Imrω1ψmE35

where ψm is the flux magnitude, Imr is the magnetising current, and ω1 is the stator angular speed related with electrical frequency.

Rearranging (35) one can write:

ωsref=(|Qref|(Imrrefψmref))ω2E36

realizing:

f2 = pp.n2

ω2 = ppm2

ω1 = ω2 + ωs

ωs = slip angular speed related with slip frequency

ωs ref = the desired slip angular speed related with slip frequency

Imr ref = the desired magnetizing current

pp = the pole pairs

│Qref│ = the desired reactive power

The negative sign in Equation (36) results from the sign of Qref, the reference reactive power.

Given Equation (36), we can now write the expression for the slip:

s=ωs(ω2+ωs)=1+(ω2Imrrefψmref/Qref)=1+(ω2LmImrref2/Qref)E37

This expression can be substituted into the active power slip compensation term 1/(1-s). The Imr ref and ψm ref terms in this expression are reference values. Clearly, Imr and ψm for an induction machine are related, that is, ψm = Lm.Imr. Hence, we have written the numerator of Equation (37) as Lm.Imr ref2. This requires acquiring the value of magnetizing inductance of the machine.

The reactive power expression can be written as:

|Qref|=Imrω1ψm=Imrψm(ω2+ωs)E38

So, it can be concluded that the reactive power is dependent on the slip frequency. The slip frequency is well-related with the torque. In case a rapid change in torque is needed, slip frequency changes as a step and consequently the reactive power value changes. The torque T and ωs expressions of an induction machine can be written as (using the standard expression from Field Oriented Control):

T=1.5ppLm2|Imr|Ip/L2E39
ωs=Ip/(τ2|Imr|)E40

where τ2 = L2 /R2, L2 = the rotor inductance, and R2 = the rotor resistance. Therefore, τ2 is the rotor time constant.

Rearranging Equation (39), one can write:

Ip=(TL2)/(1.5ppLm2|Imr|)E41

Substituting Equation (41) into Equation (40) gives:

ωs=(TL2)/(1.5ppLm2|Imr|2τ2)E42

The denominator in Equation (42) can be simplified by assuming that the leakage inductance of the machine is very small in relation to L2, and hence L2 ≈ Lm. Therefore, Equation (42) can be written as:

ωs2T(3ppLm|Imr|2τ2)=2T(3ppψm|Imr|τ2)E43

We are now in a position to write an expression for the reference reactive power. Substituting Equation (43) into Equation (38) and simplifying, we get Equation (44):

Qref=[(|Imr|refω2ψmref)+(2Tref3ppτ2)]=[Lm(|Imr|ref)2ω2+(2Tref3ppτ2)]E44
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3. Experimental studies

An experimental setup using the control system shown in Fig. 4 was established by Yamamoto and Motoyoshi and the characteristics of the control system along the M-T frame have been experimentally examined. Experimental data are taken from their study [25]. The schematic diagram of the experimental system is shown in Fig. 6. Specifications of the generator used in experimental system are shown in Table 1. Equations (16) and (17) show that active and reactive power is proportional to the rotor currents IT2 and IM2.

Figure 6.

Experimental system [25]

Phase 3 Stator Voltage 270 V
Pole Pairs 2 Rotor Voltage 257 V
Power Capacity 20 kW Synchronous Speed 1500 rpm

Table 1.

Specifications of the generator used in experimental system [25]

3.1. Experimental results

Figures 7 and 8 show the relationships between stator power and rotor current reference and Figs. 9 and 10 show the relationships between stator power and stator power reference.

Figure 10 shows the step response of the stator reactive power Q1 and the step response of the rotor current IM2 which is in proportion to the stator reactive power (Q1). Figure 8 shows the step response of the rotor current IT2 which is in proportion to the stator active power (P1). Figure 9 shows the step response of the stator active power P1. IM2 and IT2 respond to stepping of I*M2 and I*T2 in 20 ms without any effect on IT2 and IM2. P1 and Q1 respond to stepping of P*1 and Q*1 in 80 ms without any effect on Q1 and P1. The effects of this active and reactive power control method have been proved by these experimental results.

Figure 7.

Step response of the M-axis current [25]

Figure 8.

Step response of the T-axis current [25]

Figure 9.

Step response of the active power [25]

Figure 10.

Step response of the reactive power [25]

3.2. Harmonic analysis

For the power converter of this system, the cycloconverter which is suitable for a large capacity system is often used. Generally, when the large-scale converter is applied to the electric power network system, it is a very important item to analyze the harmonic currents of the power converter. As known, the harmonic currents of the power converter are transmitted to the electric power network system through the rotor and stator windings. In this chapter, the characteristics of the transmission of the harmonic currents caused by the cycloconverter are analyzed theoretically.

Before beginning analysis, let us remember the basic principles of cycloconverter and mathematical background (taken from [30]) for the understanding of the subject.

3.2.1. Principle of the cycloconverter

As known, cycloconversion is concerned mostly with direct conversion of energy to a different frequency by synthesizing a low-frequency wave from appropriate sections of a higher-frequency source. As shown in Fig. 11a, a cycloconverter can be considered to be composed of two converters connected back-to-back. The load waveforms of Fig. 11b show that in the general case, the instantaneous power flows in the load fall into one of four periods. The two periods, when the product of load voltage and current is positive, require power flow into the load, dictating a situation where the converter groups rectify, the positive and negative groups conducting respectively during the appropriate positive and negative load-current periods.

Figure 11.

General cycloconverter layout (a) Block diagram representation, (b) Ideal load waveforms [30]

The other two periods represent times when the product of load voltage and current is negative; hence, the power flow is out of the load, demanding that the converters operate in the inverting mode. As shown in Fig. 11a, the principle of the cycloconverter can be demonstrated by using the simplest possible single-phase input to single-phase output with a pure resistance as load. Each converter is a bi-phase half-wave connection, the positive group labeled P and the negative group for reverse current labeled N.

Figure 12.

Single-phase load fed from a three-pulse cycloconverter [30]

The operation of the blocked group cycloconverter with various loads can be readily explained by reference to the three-pulse connection shown in Fig. 12, with the associated waveforms for inductive load in Figs. 13 and 14. As known, the wound rotor induction motor is an inductive load. In this chapter, waveforms are drawn for inductive load.

Figure 13.

Waveforms with maximum voltage to an inductive load [30]

Figure 14.

Waveforms when the load voltage is at half maximum (inductive load current continuous) [30]

Figure 15.

Cycloconverter connections with three-phase output. (a) Three-pulse bridge, (b) Six-pulse bridge [30]

The waveforms are as shown in Fig. 13 when the load is inductive, these being at a condition of maximum voltage. The load current will lag the voltage and, as the load-current direction determines which group is conducting, the group on-periods are delayed relative to the desired output voltage. The group thyristors are fired at such angles to achieve an output as close as possible to a sinewave, but now the lagging load current takes each group into the inverting mode. The group will cease conducting when the load current reverses. The load-voltage waveform is shown as a smooth transfer between groups, but in practice, a short gap would be present to ensure cessation of current in, and the regaining of the blocking state in, the outgoing group, before the incoming group is fired. The waveforms drawn assume the current is continuous within each load half-cycle. The effects of overlap will in practice be present in the waveforms.

In practice, the load-current waveform in Fig. 13 is assumed to be sinusoidal, although it would contain a ripple somewhat smaller than that in the voltage waveform. A light load inductance would result in discontinuous current, giving short zero-voltage periods. Each thyristor will conduct the appropriate block of load current, having the branch currents shown. The current ia - ib would represent the transformer input line current if one assumed the supply to be via a delta primary transformer. The input-current waveform shows changes in shape from cycle to cycle but where the input and output frequencies are an exact multiple, the waveform will repeat over each period of output frequency.

As shown in Fig. 14, a reduction in the output voltage can be obtained by firing angle delay. Here firing is delayed, even at the peak of the output voltage, so that control is possible over the magnitude of the output voltage. Comparison of Fig. 14 with Fig. 13 indicates a higher ripple content when the output voltage is reduced.

As shown in Fig. 15a, the three-pulse cycloconverter when feeding a three-phase load can be connected with a total of 18 thyristors. As shown in Fig. 15b, a six-pulse cycloconverter can be based on either six-phase half-wave blocks or the bridge connection when 36 thyristors are required.

Figure 16.

Cycloconverter load-voltage waveform with a lagging power factor load (six-pulse connection) [30]

An example of the cycloconverter output waveforms for the higher-pulse connections is given in Fig. 16, with an output frequency of one-third of the input frequency. It is clear from these waveforms that the higher the pulse-number, the closer is the output waveform to the desired sinusoidal waveform. In general, the output frequency is in general limited to about one-half to one-third of the input frequency, the higher-pulse connections permitting a higher limit.

As in Fig. 15, when the three-pulse cycloconverter feeds a three-phase balanced load, the current loading on the supply is much more evenly balanced. The waveforms to illustrate this are given in Fig. 17 for a frequency ratio of 4/1 with a load of 0.707 power factor lagging. It has been assumed that the load current is sinusoidal, although in practice it must contain ripple. The total load current is not identical from one cycle to the next, obviously contains harmonics, and its fundamental component lags the supply voltage by a larger amount than the load power factor angle.

Figure 17.

Development of total input current to three-pulse cycloconverter with three-phase lagging power factor load [30]

The thyristors of a cycloconverter are commutated naturally, and whether the load is resistive, inductive, or capacitive, the firing of the thyristors must be delayed to shape the output. The net result is that the AC supply input current will always lag its associated voltage.

3.2.2. Circulating current mode

The previous section specified cycloconverter operation where either the positive or negative groups were conducting, but never together. As shown in Fig. 18, if a center-tapped reactor is connected between the positive group P and negative group N, then both groups can be permitted to conduct. The reactor will limit the circulating current, that is, the value of its inductance to the flow of load current from either group being one quarter of its value to the circulating current, because inductance is proportional to the square of the number of turns.

In Fig. 19, typical waveforms are shown for the three-pulse cycloconverter shown in Fig. 18. Each group conducts continuously, with rectifying and inverting modes as shown. The mean between the two groups will be fed to the load, some of the ripple being cancelled in the combination of the two groups. Both groups synthesize the same fundamental sinewave. The reactor voltage is the instantaneous difference between the two group voltages. The circulating current shown in Fig. 19 can only flow in one direction, the thyristors preventing reverse flow. Hence, the current will build up during the reactor voltage positive periods until in the steady state it is continuous, rising and falling as shown.

Figure 18.

Three-pulse cycloconverter with intergroup reactor [30]

Figure 19.

Waveform of a three-pulse cycloconverter with circulating current but without load [30]

3.2.3. Mathematical analysis

The above subjects have demonstrated that almost all the waveforms associated with power electronic equipment are non-sinusoidal, which contains harmonic components. The purpose of this subject is to analyze the harmonic content of the various waveforms and discuss their effects as regards both supply and load.

Any periodic waveform may be shown to be composed of the superposition of a direct component with a fundamental pure sinewave component, together with pure sinewaves known as harmonics at frequencies which are integral multiples of the fundamental. A non-sinusoidal wave is often referred to as a complex wave [30].

Mathematically, it is more convenient to express the independent variable as x and the dependent variable as y. Then, the series may be expressed as:

y=f(x)=a0+a1cos(x)+a2cos(2x)+...+ancos(nx)+b1sin(x)+b2sin(2x)+...+bnsin(nx) E45

Equation (45) is known as a Fourier series, and where f(x) can be expressed mathematically, a Fourier analysis yields that the coefficients are [31]:

a0=12πππf(x)dxE46
an=1πππf(x)cosnxdxE47
bn=1πππf(x)sinnxdxE48

Alternatively, the series may be expressed as:

y=f(x)=R0+R1sin(xϕ1)+R2sin(2xϕ2)+R3sin(3xϕ3)+...+Rnsin(nxϕn)E49

Equations (49) and (45) are equivalent, with:

ancosnx+bnsinnx=Rnsin(nxϕn)E50

From which the resultant and phase angle:

Rn=(an2+bn2)1/2E51
ϕn=arctananbnE52

Electrically, it expresses the independent variable as ωt instead of x and the dependent variable as volts or amperes instead of y. Then, the series may be expressed as:

v=V0+V1sin(ωtϕ1)+V2sin(2ωtϕ2)+V3sin(3ωtϕ3)+...+Vnsin(nωtϕn)  E53

where

v is the instantaneous value of the voltage at any time t;

Vo is the direct (or mean) value of the voltage;

V1 is the maximum value of the fundamental component of the voltage;

V2 is the maximum value of the second harmonic component of the voltage;

V3 is the maximum value of the third harmonic component of the voltage;

Vn is the maximum value of the nth harmonic component of the voltage;

ϕ defines the relative angular reference; and

ω = 2πf, where f is the frequency of the fundamental component, 1/f

defining the time over which the complex wave repeats itself.

The constant term of Equation (46) is the mean value of the function, and is the value found in, for example, the calculation of the direct (mean) voltage output of a rectifier. In the analysis of a complex wave, certain statements and simplifications are possible by inspection of any given waveform. If the areas of the positive and negative half-cycles are equal, then a0 is zero. If f(x + π) = - f(x), then there are no even harmonics, that is, no second, fourth, etc. In plain terms, this means the negative half-cycle is a reflection of the positive half-cycle. If f(- x) = - f(x), then an= 0; that is, there are no sine terms. If f(- x) = f(x), then bn= 0; that is, there are no cosine terms. Symmetry of the waveform can result in Equations (47) and (48) being taken as twice the value of the integral from 0 to π, or four times the value of the integral from 0 to π /2, hence simplifying the analysis.

Where it is difficult to put a mathematical expression to f(x), or where an analysis of an experimental or practical waveform obtained from a piece of equipment is required, graphical analysis can be performed [30].

The conditions of analysis are as follows.

  1. The frequency of the harmonic current for the three-pulse and six-pulse cycloconverter is 6mfl ± (2n + 1)fs, where m is any integer from 1 to infinity, n is any integer from 0 to infinity, fl is the frequency of the power source, and fs is the output frequency of the cycloconverter [32].

  2. The analysis is carried out only on the harmonic components.

  3. Zero-phase-sequence current (harmonic currents of multiple of 3) is neglected.

  4. The stator is connected to the fundamental frequency voltage source.

Using these conditions, the three-phase rotor current can be defined as follows:

Ia2=mnA(6n1)mSin{6mθ1(6n1)θs}+A(6n5)mSin{6mθ1(6n5)θs}+B(6n1)mSin{6mθ1(6n1)θs}+B(6n5)mSin{6mθ1(6n5)θs}E54
Ib2=mnA(6n1)mSin{6mθ1(6n1)(θs2π3)}+A(6n5)mSin{6mθ1(6n5)(θs2π3)}+B(6n1)mSin{6mθ1(6n1)(θs2π3)}+B(6n5)mSin{6mθ1(6n5)(θs2π3)}E55
Ic2=mnA(6n1)mSin{6mθ1(6n1)(θs+2π3)}+A(6n5)mSin{6mθ1(6n5)(θs+2π3)}+B(6n1)mSin{6mθ1(6n1)(θs+2π3)}+B(6n5)mSin{6mθ1(6n5)(θs+2π3)}E56

where m=1,2,....., n=1,2,......, θllt: ωl is the stator angular speed, θsst: ωs is the slip angular speed.

When Equations (54)–(56) are transformed to the d-q axis based on the stator voltage, (57) and (58) are derived:

Id2=mnA(6n1)mSin{6mθ16nθs}+A(6n5)mSin{6mθ1(6n1)θs}+B(6n1)mSin{6mθ1+6nθs}+B(6n5)mSin{6mθ1+(6n1)θs}E57
Iq2=mnA(6n1)mCos{6mθ16nθs}+A(6n5)mCos{6mθ1(6n1)θs}+B(6n1)mCos{6mθ1+6nθs}+B(6n5)mCos{6mθ1+(6n1)θs}E58

The characteristics of transmission from the rotor winding to the stator winding are analyzed by substituting into the fundamental equation of a wound rotor induction machine. The analysis uses the symmetrical coordinate method for simplification. In this case, positive phase sequence component value (F component value) and negative phase sequence component value (B component value) have a conjugate relationship. The F component value is used for the analysis in this paper, which gives the following fundamental equation of the wound rotor induction machine:

[VF1VF2]=[R1+(p+jω1)(L1+Lm)(p+jω1)Lm(p+jω0)LmR2+(p+jω0)(L2+Lm)][IF1IF2]E59

When Equation (59) is transformed relative to IF1, the following equation is obtained:

IF1=(p+jω1)LmR1+(p+jω1)(L1+Lm)IF2+VF1E60

In this analysis, stator voltage is the fundamental voltage source, then, VF1 = 0 is defined. When IF1 is expressed by Id2 and Iq2, using Equation (60) and IF2 = (1/√2)(Id2 + jIq2), the following expression is derived:

IF1=(p+jω1)LmR1+(p+jω1)(L1+Lm)12(Id2+jIq2)E61

Equation (59) is substituted into Equations (57) and (58). Applying Laplace transformation, the stator current is calculated. A-phase stator current is derived as follows:

Ia1=mnC(6n1)mCos{(6m+1)θ16nθs}+C(6n5)mCos{(6m1)θ1(6n1)θs}+D(6n1)mCos{(6m1)θ1+6nθs}+D(6n5)mCos{(6m+1)θ1+(6n1)θs}E62

where

C(6n1)mA(6n1)m(Lm(Lm+L1)),D(6n1)mB(6n1)m(Lm(Lm+L1))C(6n5)mA(6n5)m(Lm(Lm+L1)),D(6n5)mB(6n5)m(Lm(Lm+L1))BB2

The results of this analysis show that the harmonic currents fed to the rotors winding are transmitted to the stator windings by changing its frequency. The rotor harmonic currents at 6mω1±(6n - 5)ωs change to stator harmonic currents at (6m±1)ω1±6(n - 1)ωs. And the rotor harmonic currents at 6mω1±(6n - 1)ωs change to stator harmonic currents at (6m±1)ω1±6nωs. This is the effect of the rotating speed of the wound rotor induction generator. Moreover, the ratio between the amplitude of harmonic currents in the rotor and the stator is nearly 1:1.

Analysis results are verified by the experimental system shown in Fig. 6. Table 2 gives an example of experimental results. It is seen that experimental values well match with the theoretical ones. Thus, experiments confirmed that the analysis gives reliable results.

Rotor Harmonic Current Stator Harmonic Current
Frequency Experimental Value Frequency Experimental Value Theoretical Value
296.7 Hz 3.18 A 250 Hz 2.99 A 3.12 A
303.3 Hz 1.65 A 350 Hz 1.53 A 1.61 A
293.3 Hz 0.43 A 340 Hz 0.46 A 0.42 A
316.7 Hz 0.40 A 260 Hz 0.36 A 0.39 A

Table 2.

Experimental results (ω1=50 Hz, ωs=50 Hz, m=1, N= 1400 r/min, I1=I2=25 A) [25]

It has been proved by experiment that this control system can control the active and reactive power independently and stably. In addition, it has been confirmed by analysis and experiment that the harmonic currents fed to the rotor windings of the generator are transmitted to the stator windings changing its frequency [25].

3.3. Proposed experimental setup

By using the computer and driver/buffer, the experimental setups to control active and reactive power of the wound rotor induction generator independently and stably are shown in Figs. 20 and 21 [28]. The terminals in experimental setups shown in Figs. 20 and 21 are numbered considering that the three-pulse cycloconverter with a total of 18 thyristors shown in Fig. 15a will be used.

Figure 20.

Schematic block diagram of the experimental setup for computer-aided power control of wound rotor induction generator

Figure 21.

Another schematic block diagram of the experimental setup for computer-aided power control of wound rotor induction generator

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4. Conclusion

New configurations for power control system of the doubly-fed wound rotor induction generator have been proposed. These configurations are based on a control method using a rotating reference frame fixed on the air-gap flux of the generator. By using them, the active and reactive power of generator can be controlled independently and stably. To achieve this purpose, power and current control that are fundamental subjects have been analyzed and as a result, a computer-aided circuit is given to achieve the power and current control. Using computers enables application of new technologies for easier control. For example, any new metaheuristic techniques or classification/identification techniques could be applied by just changing the code in the computer.

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Written By

Fevzi Kentli

Submitted: 15 November 2014 Reviewed: 29 June 2015 Published: 18 November 2015