I. INTRODUCTION
HE increasing rate of the depletion of conventional energy sources has given rise to an increased emphasis on
renewable energy sources such as wind, mini/micro-hydro, etc.
[1][16]. Generation of electrical energy mainly so far has been
from thermal, nuclear, and hydro plants. They have continuously degraded the environmental conditions. An increasing rate
of the depletion of conventional energy sources and the degradation of environmental conditions has given rise to an increased
emphasis on renewable energy sources, particularly after the
increases in fuel prices during the 1970s. Use of an induction
machine as a generator is becoming more and more popular
for the renewable sources [1], [17][20]. Reactive power consumption and poor voltage regulation under varying speed are
the major drawbacks of the induction generators, but the development of static power converters has facilitated the control of the output voltage of induction generators. This paper
presents an overview of three-phase self-excited induction generator (SEIG). The paper is organized as follows. Section II
presents the classification of induction generators. A literature
review on the process of self-excitation and voltage buildup,
and modeling is presented in Sections III and IV, respectively.
Performances under steady state, transient conditions, reactive
power-control methods, and parallel operation of SEIG have
been presented in Sections VVIII, respectively.
Manuscript received June 24, 2003; revised November 25, 2003. Paper no.
TEC-00155-2003.
The author is with the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department,
Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani PIN-333031, India (e-mail:
rcbansal@hotmail.com).
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/TEC.2004.842395
are high, the power factor is low, and reliability is poor under
dusty and abnormal conditions because of the sliding mechanical contacts in the rotor. This scheme is not suitable for isolated power generations because it needs grid supply to maintain excitation.
C. Variable-Speed Variable Frequency
With variable prime mover speed, the performance of synchronous generators can be affected. For variable speed corresponding to the changing derived speed, SEIG can be conveniently used for resistive heating loads, which are essentially
frequency insensitive. The basic theme of this paper is to present
an overview of SEIG in isolated applications. This scheme is
gaining importance for stand-alone wind power applications [1],
[17][20].
III. PROCESS OF SELF-EXCITATION AND VOLTAGE
BUILDUP IN SEIG
Self-excitation phenomenon [44][59] in induction machines
although known for more than a half century is still a subject of
considerable attention. The interest in this topic is primarily due
to the application of SEIG in isolated power systems. Physical
background of the self-excitation process has been described in
considerable depth in [49]. When an induction machine is driven
at a speed greater than the synchronous speed (negative slip)
by means of an external prime mover, the direction of induced
torque is reversed and theoretically it starts working as an induction generator. From the circle diagram of the induction machine
in the negative slip region [52], it is seen that the machine draws
a current, which lags the voltage by more than 90 . This means
that real power flows out of the machine but the machine needs
the reactive power. To build up voltage across the generator terminals, excitations must be provided by some means; therefore,
the induction generator can work in two modes (i.e., grid connected and isolated mode). In case of a grid-connected mode,
the induction generator can draw reactive power either from the
grid but it will place a burden on the grid or by connecting a
capacitor bank across the generator terminals [60][62]. For an
isolated mode, there must be a suitable capacitor bank connected
across the generator terminals. This phenomenon is known as
capacitor self-excitation and the induction generator is called a
SEIG.
The process of voltage buildup in an induction generator is
very much similar to that of a dc generator. There must be a
suitable value of residual magnetism present in the rotor. In the
absence of a proper value of residual magnetism, the voltage
will not build up. So it is desirable to maintain a high level
of residual magnetism, as it does ease the process of machine
excitation. The operating conditions resulting in demagnetization of the rotor (e.g., total collapse of voltage under resistive
loads, rapid collapse of voltage due to short circuit, etc. should
be avoided [49]).
When an induction generator first starts to run, the residual
magnetism in the rotor circuit produces a small voltage. This
small voltage produces a capacitor current flow, which increases
the voltage, and so forth until the voltage is fully built up. The
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no-load terminal voltage of the induction generator is the intersection of the generators magnetization curve with capacitor
load line [54]. The magnetization curve of the induction generator can be obtained by running the machine as a motor at no
load and measuring the armature current as a function of terminal voltage. To achieve a given voltage level in an induction
generator, an external capacitor must be able to supply the magnetizing current of that level.
IV. MODELING
Various models and their applications [22], [48], [63][84]
have been presented to analyze the steady-state as well as transient performance of SEIG operating with either a regulated or
unregulated prime mover. The following categories are the different models used.
A.
Reference Model
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Many articles been appeared on the transient/dynamic analysis of SEIG [69], [84], [116][127] and most of the transient
studies of induction generators are related to voltage buildup
due to self-excitation and load perturbation. In [69], the transient
performance of short-shunt SEIG is presented. It is seen that it
can sustain severe switching transients, has good overload capacity, and can re-excite over no load after loss of excitation. It
is also observed that except for the most unusual circumstances
(the short circuit across the machine terminals across the series
capacitor), the short-shunt SEIG supplies adequate fault current
to enable overcurrent protective device operation.
In [84], the voltage buildup of SEIG due to switching of the
three-phase capacitor bank at rated speed at no load is presented.
It is observed that depending on the machine parameters, the
generator voltage builds up from small voltage due to residual
magnetism to its rated value in nearly 1 s. In [118], transient
analysis of SEIG feeding an induction motor (IM) has been
investigated to analyze the suitability of the SEIG to sudden
switching, such as starting of the IM. It is seen that reliable
starting of an IM on SEIG is achievable with the value of capacitance determined through steady-state investigation; however, the capacitance should be applied in two steps: first to
self-excite the generator, and second along with the motor or
after switching on the motor.
Wang et al. [119] have presented the transient performance of
stand-alone SEIG under the voltage buildup process, suddenly
switching off one excitation capacitor and suddenly switching
off two excitation capacitors. It is seen that when one of the
three balanced excitation capacitors is switched off from the
machine, SEIG can still maintain self-excitation and generates
adequate voltage on other two phases. When two of the threebalanced excitation capacitors are switched off from the machine, the generated voltage of the SEIG collapses and gradually
reduces to zero. Wang et al. [120] have presented a comparative study of long-shunt and short-shunt configurations on dynamic performance of an isolated SEIG feeding an induction
motor load. Results show that the long shunt configurations may
lead to unwanted oscillations while the short shunt provides the
better voltage regulation. Levi et al. [59] have presented an experimental study of the dynamic behavior of SEIG. The emphasis is placed on the situation that leads to voltage collapse
and the total demagnetization of the machine and on the variable speed of the induction generator with a fixed capacitor
bank. Transient performance of three-phase SEIG during balanced and unbalanced faults is presented in [121], considering
the effects of main and cross flux saturation for load perturbation, three-phase, and line-to-line short circuit, opening of one
capacitor, two capacitors and a single line at the capacitor bank,
opening of single-phase load, two-phase load, etc.
Induction generators and also load, which is generally inductive in nature, require the supply of reactive power [128][149].
Unbalanced reactive power operation results in voltage variation. Capacitance requirements and the selection of capacitors
of the SEIG have been discussed in [128][134]. Malik et al.
[132] have shown that the minimum capacitance requirement
of SEIG is inversely proportional to the square of speed and
maximum saturated magnetizing reactance. Sridhar et al. [134]
have discussed a methodology to choose the appropriate value
of capacitors for desired regulation of short-shunt SEIG. The
short/long-shunt configurations of the SEIG give better performance in terms of voltage regulation than the simple shunt configuration, but the compensation used in these configurations
causes the problem of subsynchronous resonance while supplying power to inductive and/or dynamic loads.
An overexcited synchronous machine can provide reactive
power compensation [135], [136]. But it does so on the sacrifice
of active power generation as the winding of the synchronous
generator is designed for a particular rating of current. Further,
this method is somewhat complex, and is only cost effective
when a large amount of compensation is needed.
A fixed capacitor alone, presented in [77], [115], cannot provide the adequate amount of reactive power needed by the induction generator at all possible speeds and loading conditions.
Even if fixed capacitors are used to provide the average value,
self-excitation may result in undue overvoltages.
A fixed and switched capacitors scheme presented in [137]
consists of two discrete groups of fixed and switched capacitors, which furnish enough reactive power for an induction generator throughout its desired operating region of speed. The
number of switched capacitors is kept to a minimum to simplify
the switching circuit, and yet provides adequate and varying
reactive power compensation. The controller senses the reactive power drawn by the machine and accordingly provides the
needed reactive power to improve the power factor to as close to
unity as possible. This method has limited applications because
it regulates a terminal voltage in discrete steps.
The above described methods of reactive power control have
many disadvantages and may not be able to provide the adequate amount of reactive power under varying input and/or load
conditions. Wind is the main conventional energy source that
fluctuates highly in nature, and power produced from the wind
varies with the cube of the speed [138]. Static var compensators
(SVCs) have been used in conventional power systems and can
also be used conveniently in isolated power systems [142] where
continuous and fast control of reactive power is required.
In [142], an SVC has been used to control the reactive power
of an isolated wind-diesel hybrid system in which the induction
generator is used for wind systems and the synchronous generator is for a diesel generator set. SVC has fast response and
continuous control of reactive power and offers a large number
of advantages over conventional reactive power compensation
schemes.
The need for reactive power support and poor voltage regulation are the two major drawbacks of induction generators.
296
are almost negligible. It is expected that better methods of reactive power/voltage-control techniques will make the SEIG more
suitable for isolated applications.
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