EPSRC logo

Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/F061714/1
Title: PERFORMANCE COMPARISON OF TRADITIONAL AND EMERGING DOUBLY-FED GENERATOR TOPOLOGIES FOR GRID-CONNECTED WIND POWER APPLICATIONS
Principal Investigator: Atkinson, Dr DJ
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE)
Department: Electrical, Electronic & Computer Eng
Organisation: Newcastle University
Scheme: Standard Research
Starts: 22 September 2008 Ends: 21 September 2011 Value (£): 135,327
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Wind Power
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Energy
Related Grants:
EP/F06148X/1
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
25 Feb 2008 Collaborative Research With China Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
Currently the accepted technology for large wind turbines is the doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG). This technology is popular primarily due to the reduced cost of the partially rated power electronic converter. On the negative side is the fact that the generator requires brushes and slip rings which require regular maintainance.An alternative scheme is based on the brushless doubly-fed reluctance machine (BDFRM) which also has the cost benefit of a partially rated power converter but as its name implies does not require brushes and slip rings.The BDFRM has not been used for a wind power application. This project will experimentally examine its performance for a wind power application. There are a number of different approaches to the control of a BDFRM. The project will examine the use of Direct Power Control (DPC). This control approach will include sensorless operation and machine parameter independence. With the proliferation of wind power generation the issue of power system stabilty is of great concern. It is important to examine the fault-ride-through (FRT) capabilty of any generation system. This project will examine the FRT capability of the BDFRM and compare this to that of the DFIG. This will require that special grid fault emulation equipment is included in the laboratory test rig.
Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Summary
Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:  
Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.ncl.ac.uk