STAND-ALONE DOUBLE-EXCITED SYNCHRONOUS GENERATOR

OPERATING ON A VARIABLE LOAD

I.A. VIOREL – D. FODOREAN – A. VIOREL – L. SZABÓ

Technical University of Cluj, Department of Electrical Machines
RO-400020 CLUJ, Daicoviciu 15, Romania
Phone: +40-264-401-232 / Fax: +40-264-594-921
e-mail: Ioan.Adrian.Viorel@mae.utcluj.ro

Abstract: The double-excited or hybrid
synchronous generator (HSG), has the excitation field
produced by permanent magnets and auxiliary
excitation winding. It can be employed in small-scale
distributed or autonomous power systems. In the
paper, the steady-state equation for a HSG with
excitation fields on both axes are developed and
particularized for different possible variants. A HSG
prototype is presented and test results are compared
with the calculated one, evincing a quite large output
voltage and power factor control.
Keywords: hybrid synchronous generator; stand-
alone operating
Different ways of modelling the PMSG, or its
companion motor, were developed, based on the
circuit-field analysis [8, 9] or on the time-stepping
coupled field-circuit method [7, 10]. A general
approach to compare different electric machines
based on sizing and power density equations
was presented in [11].
The hybrid synchronous machine was
presented in quite many papers too, such as [12,
13, 14] and a basic construction of such a
machine is given in Fig. 1.

1. INTRODUCTION

The large synchronous wound-field

generators, with controllable field current, are the
most representative electric power generators.
Due to the field control flexibility these
generators may assure an adequate bus voltage
and reactive power control. Recently, mostly due
to the environmental concerns and to the
lowering the cost purpose, the number of small-
scale distributed or autonomous power system
were increased. For such applications, the
permanent-magnet synchronous generator
(PMSG) is used more often despite his inherent
drawbacks caused by its almost constant and
difficult to control rotor field. Distributed or
autonomous generation systems cover a very
large scale of systems, from small electric mill to
automobile and electric vehicle generators. The
PMSG might find its place there, but also some
other constructions, such as the double-excited
or hybrid synchronous generator (DESG or HSG)
should be studied since their price to
performance ratio can be a competitive one.
There are a large number of books and
papers which deal with the construction,
technology, design and characteristics of
permanent magnet synchronous machines [1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7], therefore the PMSG can be
considered as well known and perfectly defined.
Figure 1. HSG basic structure
The HSG has a conventional stator with
slots and a distributed or concentrated winding;
in Fig. 1 is not given the stator winding. The rotor
has surface, like in Fig. 1, or inset permanent
magnets and an auxiliary field winding placed in
rotor slots. The rotor structure might differ, from
the basic one given in Fig. 1, containing for
instance inset permanent magnets oriented on
the q-axis and an important saliency [6]. In the
first case the auxiliary winding excitation current
and the permanent magnets produce a field
oriented on the d-axis direction, while in the
second the fields are in quadrate.
In the paper, the steady-state equations are
developed for a general machine construction,
with excitation fields on both axes. They are
particularized for the construction similar to that
given in Fig. 1, the calculated results being Neglecting the stator phase resistance the d-
compared with the ones obtained by tests. and q-axis projections in the phasors’ diagram,
Since, as previously stated, the stand-alone Fig. 2, lead to the scalar equations:
systems cover a large area, the generator should E0d = Vs cos γ 0 + X d Id
operate at constant or large variable speed, and
its load may be of variable or unity power factor. E0q = Vs sin γ 0 − X q Iq
All these variants are discussed through a X d = ωLd
theoretical development, the tests being
conducted quite in the same manner. X q = ωLq (4)
γ 0 = α 0 + θ0
2. MATHEMATICAL MODEL Id = Is sin(γ 0 + ϕ )
Iq = Is cos(γ 0 + ϕ )
The HSG mathematical model, considering
on the rotor excitation fields on both d- and The HSG symmetrical load and an
q-axis, is given by the dq0 generator equations: electronically controlled LC block on each phase
is considered, Fig. 3.
v d + Ri d = ωλq
v q + Ri q = −ωλd
(1)
λd = Ld i d + λfd
λq = Lq i q + λfq
By introducing the state phasors results:
v s + R i s = − jω λs
λs = λd + jλq = (2)
= Ld i d + jLq i q + λfd + jλfq
The phasors’ diagram is given in Fig. 2, Figure 3. HSG load and EC block on one phase
where the induced emfs are:
The phase synchronous generator current is:
E0 d = − jωλ fd Is = IB + IL
(3)
E0 q = − jω ( jλ fq ) ⎛ 1 1 ⎞
I s = V s ⎜⎜ + ⎟
⎟
⎝ ZB ZL ⎠
q
Z (5)
E0q
Is = Vs
ZL ZB
jXdid
2 2
E0d ⎛R Z R Z ⎞ ⎛X Z X Z ⎞
jXq(jiq) Z = ⎜⎜ B L + L B ⎟⎟ + ⎜⎜ L B + B L ⎟⎟
RiS ⎝ ZB ZL ⎠ ⎝ ZL ZB ⎠
E0
α0
where RL, RB, XL, XB, ZL, ZB are load, respectively
γ0 vS≈-jωλS LC block, resistances, reactances and
jλfq impedances.
λS θ0 φ
Lqjiq iS jiq After some simple mathematical calculations
Ldid
d
results:
λfd id
Vs (1 − X q / X d ) sin γ 0 cos γ
cos ϕ = +
Z
Figure 2. Phasors’ diagram, HSG steady-state regime Vs Xq
Z L ⋅ ZB
The notations are the usual ones, (6)
E0d X q / X d sin γ 0 − E0q cos γ 0
− vd, vq; id, iq; λd, λq; Ld; Lq; are d and q-axis +
Z
voltages, currents, flux linkages and Vs Xq
synchronous inductances respectively. ZL ⋅ ZB
− ω is rotor speed, equal with the stator
emf pulsation for one pole pair machine.
 The HSG steady state regime implies that 3. HYBRID SYNCHRONOUS
the rotor speed n is constant and so are the load GENERATOR
and LC block impedances.
All of them can be different at different times,
but the steady state regime has to be
maintained.
Let look now to some particularly cases.
1. Consider that, due to an intermediary
electronic converter placed between HSG
and the load [3, 6] the power factor is equal
to unity. Then the stator output voltage
comes as:
E0d X q X d sin γ 0 − E0q cos γ 0
Vs = (7) Figure 4. HSG prototype
Z
X q − (1 − X q X d ) sin γ 0 cos γ 0 The HSG, Fig. 4, has surface NdFeB
ZL ZB
permanent magnets on the rotor d-axis and an
2. Consider that the HSG has a reduced auxiliary excitation winding placed in special
saliency, which consequently means: slots; the cross section of the machine is given in
Fig. 5.
Xd ≅ Xq = Xs
E0d sin γ 0 − E0q cos γ 0
Vs = (8)
Z
Xs
ZL ZB

In all the cases, the q-axis field should have

an opposite direction to the q-axis stator current
in order to obtain a power factor, or output
voltage increase, as for BEGA generator [6].
It is also clear that the d-axis excitation field
acts in the same manner as the q-axis excitation
field does.
In the case of the built HSG prototype,
Figs. 1 and 4, the q-axis excitation field does not
exist and due to the fact that the rotor has
surface permanent magnets the d- and q-axis Figure 5. HSG prototype cross section
synchronous inductances differ slightly. The stator core sheets were taken from an
Consequently the product between output HSG induction motor while the rotor was adapted to
phase voltage and power factor comes as: the requirements, Fig. 6.
E0d sin γ 0
Vs cos ϕ = (9)
Z
Xs
ZL ZB

If there is no electronically controlled LC

block, which means no voltage and power factor
control through this block, than the voltage can
be controlled only via d-axis variable field, the
usual simplified formulae:
E0d sin γ 0 ZL
Vs cos ϕ = (10)
Xs
Figure 6. HSG prototype rotor
The product between output voltage and
power factor can be controlled by induced emf The stator winding is a single layer three
which varies due to auxiliary excitation winding phase one with 3 slots per pole and per phase,
mmf, (10). placed in 36 slots.
 The machine was designed analytically and
checked by using a two dimensions finite
element method (2D-FEM) calculation.
The HSG prototype is far of the best one
since the stator iron core was imposed and only
the winding and stack length could be changed,
The main geometrical data of the HSG are:
outer stator diameter Des = 0.2 m; inner stator
diameter Dis = 0.124 m; air-gap length
g = 0.001 m; permanent magnet thickness
hm = 0.0035 m; motor’s stack length l = 0.1 m;
rotor slot height / width hrs / wrs = 0.017 / 0.022 m
Since the d-axis field should be controlled via
the auxiliary excitation current the auxiliary
excitation winding was designed very carefully.
By using a 2D-FEM calculation the air-gap flux
density was computed to evince the excitation
winding mmf influence. In Fig. 6 the air-gap flux
density variation corresponding to four values of
the excitation current, 0, 12.7, 19.2 and 24 A is
presented showing the important flux weakening.
Figure 7. No load air-gap flux density at different
excitation currents, 2D-FEM calculation
A comparison between phase emf values,
2D-FEM calculated, respectively test obtained, at
no load is given in Fig. 8.
Figure 8. 2D-FEM and tests values, induced stator
phase emf
To emphasize the existing differences in
Fig. 8 the error between the two sets of data was
computed and plotted, Fig. 9.
Figure 9. Errors between 2D-FEM and tests values,
induced stator phase emf
As it can be seen from Fig. 9 the differences
are quite unimportant in the flux weakening
domain (in special for the excitation currents
situated in the interval of -15 A ÷ -5 A), but they
increase due to the iron core saturation.
Anyway, at constant speed, n = 1500 rpm,
the variation of the induced emf can be
considered linear for excitation current variation
between -15 A and +15 A, the sign signification
being related with the flux direction, which is
opposite to the permanent magnet one for the
current negative values.
The HSG parameters, obtained by tests or by
2D-FEM calculation are:
− Stator phase resistance R = 1.7745 Ω,
− Stator phase leakage inductance
Lσ = 0.004975 H,
− d-axis synchronous inductance
Ld = 0.02028 H,
− q-axis synchronous inductance
Lq = 0.01586 H.
The rated output power is 5.16 kW at rated
phase voltage Vs = 200 V and rated phase
current Is = 8.6 A for unity power factor.
4. RESULTS
The behaviour of a stand-alone synchronous
generator (SG) operating on a load together with
a static VAR compensator was discussed in [5]
where only the inductance could be varied
through a thyristor ignition angle.
In the present paper an electronically
controlled LC block, quite similar to a VAR
compensator, was considered within the model
only for the sake of generality, since the HSG
has, as proved before, quite large voltage control
due to the auxiliary excitation mmf.
Therefore the tests are conducted on HSG
with various loads and the results are compared
with the calculated values. The induced emf
variation function of auxiliary excitation winding
current is considered linear accordingly to the
tests and 2D-FEM calculations.
For the given HSG the characteristics can be
calculated based on the equations:
X q cos ϕ
tgγ 0 =
ZL + X q sin ϕ
E0d cos γ 0
Vs =
1 + X d (tgγ 0 cos ϕ + sin ϕ ) ZL
Once given the load the power factor is
known and the load angle γ0 can be calculated. It
will result a relation between the output voltage
and the induced emf, respectively auxiliary
excitation winding current.
A general equation where the phase terminal
voltage is given in function of load current IS and
power factor, induced phase emf and HSG
parameters comes after some mathematical
developments as:
(VS + I S X q sin ϕ )2 + (I S X q cos ϕ )2 E 0 =
VS 2 + VS I S ( X d + X q ) sin ϕ + X d X q I S 2
For a particular case when the load is the
rated one with unity power factor and excitation
current varies from -15 A to +15 A results:
Vs = 0.966E0d = 0.966(3.88Iex + 197.2) (13)
The computed values and the estimation
given in equation (13) are shown in Fig. 10.
Figure 10. The estimation against to computed values
For any type of generator the terminal
characteristics (the plots of the terminal voltages
versus the line currents) are of maximum
importance.
These characteristics were plotted based
both of measured and computed data.
The test set-up was built up in the Electrical
Machines Laboratory of the Technical University
of Cluj (Romania), Fig. 11.
(11)
Figure 11. The laboratory set-up
The HSG prototype terminal voltages were
measured at different excitation currents and
variable loads. In all the cases the HSG speed
was maintained at its rated value (1500 rpm).
(12)
Hence the terminal characteristics were plotted
for excitation currents varying from -15 A to
+15 A, the designed excitation current range.
The calculated terminal characteristics were
plotted, too. In order to make a correct
comparison between the characteristics obtained
via the two ways the terminal voltage of the
generator was computed exactly for the
measured current values.
From the numerous terminal characteristics
plotted based upon the computed, respectively
measured results, here only two sets will be
presented: those obtained at unitary power factor
and Iex = 0 A, respectively Iex = 2.5 A (Fig. 12).
Figure 12. The terminal characteristics plotted upon
measured and computed data
As it can be seen at low line currents the two
plots are closed and at higher currents the
difference begins to be quite important.
Neglecting of the stator phase resistances in the
HSG analytical equations is a reason for this
increasing difference, another one being the iron
core saturation.
The terminal voltage can be maintained
constant for a quite large load domain by varying
the auxiliary excitation current, and consequently
the induced emf. As example one can see the
plot given in Fig. 12 where the terminal voltage of
190 V is kept constant for an important load
variation at unity power factor on the test bench.
Figure 13. HSG prototype excitation current vs. load
current, phase voltage 190V, unity power factor
This is an important advantage of HSG over
the conventional PMSG and it makes HSG a
competitor in the low power stand-alone
generators’ market.
5. CONCLUSIONS
The most important conclusions are:
− The d- and q-axis excitation acts in the
same manner concerning the output
voltage and power factor control of a
HSG. Consequently the permanent
magnets and the auxiliary excitation can
be placed together on the d-axis in a
more compact and simpler rotor
structure.
− The auxiliary winding excitation mmf can
assure, within an adequate design, a
quite good control of the output voltage
for a large load variation. To extend this
control domain an EC LC block can be
employed too.
− The developed steady-state model is
adequate considering the fact that the
saturation is reduced due to the
permanent magnet excitation as can be
seen from the good agreement between
the computed and test obtained values.
6. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The work was possible due to the support
given by the Romanian National Council of
Scientific Research in Higher Education through
a grant offered.
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