Multiple Three-Phase Induction Generators for Wind Energy Conversion Systems

During the past decade, there has been a considerable increase in the number of published works on multiphase machines and drives. This increased interest has been largely driven by a need for the so-called green energy, i.e. energy generated from renewable sources such as wind, and also an increased emphasis on greener means for transportation. Some of the advantages multiphase machines offer over three-phase counterparts are better fault tolerance, smaller current and power per phase, and higher frequency torque ripple. This thesis examines use of a multiphase induction generator in wind energy conversion systems (WECS). In particular, multiphase generators that comprise multiple 3-phase winding sets, where each winding set is supplied using an independent 3-phase voltage source inverter (VSI), are studied. It is claimed that these topologies offer advantages in cases where a WECS is connected to a multitude of independent ac or dc microgrids, systems where a single high-voltage dc link is needed or where a simple fault tolerance is achieved when a complete winding set is switched off. All of these examples require an arbitrary power or current sharing between winding sets. In order to achieve arbitrary current and power sharing, the control can be implemented using multi stator (MS) variables, so that the flux and torque producing currents of each winding set can be arbitrarily set. As an alternative, this thesis uses vector space decomposition (VSD) to implement the control, while individual winding set flux/torque producing currents are governed by finding the relationships between MS and VSD variables. This approach has all the advantages of both MS and VSD, i.e. access to individual winding set variables of MS and the ability to implement control in the multiple decoupled two dimensional subspaces of VSD, while heavy cross coupling between winding set variables, a weakness of MS, is avoided. Since the goal of the thesis is to present use of multiphase machines in WECS, modelling and simulation of a simple multiphase WECS in back-to-back configuration has been performed at first. All systems relevant to machine control where considered, such as grid and machine side VSIs, grid filter, indirect rotor field oriented control, current control in both flux/torque producing and non-producing subspaces, low order harmonic elimination, maximum power point tracking control, and voltage oriented control of the grid side VSI. Moreover, various WECS supply topologies were considered where developed current and power sharing would be a necessary requirement. Development of the proposed current sharing control commences with an analysis of multiple 3-phase machine modelling in terms of both MS and VSD variables. Since the actual control is implemented using decoupled VSD variables, VSD modelling has been studied in detail, resulting in an algorithm for creation of the VSD matrix applicable to any symmetrical or asymmetrical multiphase machine with single or multiple neutral points. Developed algorithm always decouples the machine into orthogonal two-dimensional subspaces and zero sequence components while making sure that all odd-order harmonics are uniquely mapped. Harmonic mapping analysis is offered as well. Next, relationship between MS and VSD variables has been developed by mapping MS variables into VSD subspaces. Since VSD matrix creation algorithm is valid for any multiphase machine, relationship between MS and VSD variables is applicable to any multiple 3-phase machine regardless of the configuration (symmetrical/asymmetrical), number of neutral points or machine type (synchronous or induction). Established relationship between MS and VSD has been used to implement current sharing control in decoupled VSD subspaces of the machine. It is shown that in order to achieve arbitrary current sharing it is only necessary to impose currents in flux/torque non-producing subspaces. Hence, total machine’s flux and torque are not affected at all. Besides verification by Matlab simulations, two topologies are experimentally investigated, a parallel machine side converter configuration and the case when a single high voltage dc link is created by cascading dc-links of the machine side VSIs. In the first case the ability of arbitrary current sharing between winding sets is validated, while the second tested topology demonstrates use of the developed control for the purpose of voltage balancing of the cascaded dc links.