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DEVELOPMENT OF A BATTERY STEP VOLTAGE TO

DETERMINE PARAMETERS OF LARGE PMG


W.E. Kuchenbecker*, J.C. Teixeira
*WEG Electric Equipments, Brazil
UFABC Universidade Federal do ABC, Brazil
Contact: walterk@weg.net; juliocarlos.teixeira@ufabc.edu.br

Keywords: Permanent Magnet Generators (PMG), DC Step


Voltage Test, wind energy.

Abstract

On the contrary, for PMG with fixed rotor flux, these methods
are not applicable. A measurement of the machine electrical
parameters requires the adoption of procedures that differ
from classical methods applied to wound field machines.

Permanent magnet generators (PMG) parameters cannot be


determined by using conventional test procedures due to the
impossibility to control the magnetic field created by the
rotor, so that new procedures need to be developed and
standardized taking into account that the power of new PMG
for large wind farms is increasing as is the need for power in
laboratory facilities. A DC step voltage is an equivalent
method that, analyzed with others, makes the determination of
important PMG parameters possible. To validate the new
method, it was also applied to a well know conventional
synchronous machine using the IEC and IEEE methods. The
comparison of results showed that de DC step voltage can
help the parameter identification of large PMG for wind
applications.

Given the fact that PMG standardized tests are not available
at present, some alternative approaches have been proposed to
determine PMG parameters: the DC decay at Standstill [12],
and the use of both, the short circuit test and load tests in a
small machine (until some kVA) [6,7], bearing in mind that
this procedure requires special laboratory facilities.

1 Introduction

2 Battery step voltage testing procedure

Wind power is a promising renewable energy source. Many


studies have been focused on the improvement of efficiency
to convert wind energy into electrical energy [1]. Part of these
efforts has been directed to the design of new electrical wind
generators [8].
In the past years, PMG have become popular among suppliers
as alternative machines due to their high density torque,
efficiency and very low maintenance costs as it does not
require an excitation system. Newer PMG wind energy
systems have the ability to operate at low speeds without
gearbox, thus reducing the maintenance cost [1].
In a typical three-phase synchronous machine, the rotor has
the field winding, while the stator has the armature windings.
After being manufactured, the machine functionality is
verified through standardized laboratory tests. Worldwide
standards for larger generators were developed to enable
different laboratories to perform equivalent tests in their
facilities. In classical machines, determination of the model
parameters may be derived from results of standards as
IEC 60034-4 [10] and IEEE 115 [5], using methods in which
the field current of synchronous machine is adjusted.

PMG machines are recently designed electrical machines so


that their specificities may still need changes. Considering
that there is no worldwide standardized procedure for PMG
synchronous generators to retrofit design processes, it is
important to improve experimental tests.
The aim of this work is to adapt a DC step voltage on direct
and quadrature axes to determine typical parameters of large
PMG.

2.1 Method
Electrical machines can be represented by means of
equivalent circuits in d and q axes [11]. The performance
can be calculated by a mathematical model as shown in figure
1 (direct axis) and figure 2 (quadrature axis).

Figure 1 The classical electrical synchronous machine model on d axes

with several frequencies, including higher ones. The


experimental voltage and current were applied to a model
developed in the MATLAB platform, so as to enable the
identification of d and q axes parameters.

Figure 2 The classical electrical synchronous machine model on q axes

In order to determine the parameters of the two circuits, the


rotor must be positioned at a maximum flux (direct axis) and
a minimum flux (quadrature axis). On PMG machines, the
rotor position can be defined by applying the DC current into
two terminals of the stator winding. The rotor aligns with the
flux created by the DC current fed phase coils. If the polarity
of the DC current is changed, the rotor should align
accordingly. The q-axis is located in the middle of two d-axes
positions [6].
After the rotor has been positioned, shaft must be locked at
desired test points to avoid any movement that could generate
measuring fluctuations on the graphic responses. The battery
cables must be connected to the same stator terminals used for
rotor positioning. The circuit connection was performed as
indicated in figure 3 and 4. By means of an accurate
oscilloscope, the DC step voltage and current responses were
recorded in all six possibilities.

* Red line Battery voltage / * Blue line Battery current

Figure 5 Graphic response of the step voltage


The procedure was applied in a classical synchronous
machine, with wound rotor and damper windings. For one
large traditional synchronous generator, the values of
parameters are obtained by standardized methods in direct
and quadrature axes. Results are analyzed to identify which
parameters could be obtained by a DC step. After this
validation, a PMG prototype with no damper winding was
tested.

2.2 Estimation of parameters


Figure 3: Electrical connections and rotor position, modified
from [3].

The voltage and current of the DC step test was recorded at


the oscilloscope, and converted to a MATLAB variable. The
parameters of the model presented in figure 6 were estimated
using a last-square error method.

Figure 4: DC step voltage circuit.


In this work, a battery voltage was applied to the machine.
Initially, a peak voltage appears as shown in figure 5. As the
current increases, there is a reduction of the terminal voltage.
This transitory can be translated as an excitation of the model

Figure 6: Electrical circuit for parameters identification.

The main objective to determine PMG parameters without


damper winding is the incremental inductance [4] on both, the
direct axis (Ld) and the quadrature axis (Lq). These
inductances can be calculated using equations 1 and 2, by the
summing of the leakage reactance and the incremental
magnetization reactance [4].

Ld = Ll + Lmd

Lq = Ll + Lmq

(1)
(2)

The stator resistance was measured by a Kelvin bridge. As its


value can interfere with other machine parameters, a
sensitivity analysis was performed.
A single inductance can represent the circuit of figure 6
during the first instants of a fast transitory [2]:
L = LL + Lmd//Lkd

(3)

Figure 7 (b) Final Measured versus Simulated Responses

This sub transient inductance can be obtained for the direct


and the quadrature axes.

3 Testing results
Based on measured responses, routine iteration parameters on
the machine electrical model were tuned to match simulated
responses, as figure 7(a) initial and figure 7(b) final process.
The figure 8 shows the trajectory of nine iterations beginning
with the input values of LL, Lmd and Rkd from the
conventional synchronous generator, which were tested using
worldwide standards. Initial and final errors can be followed
in figure 9.

Figure 8 Trajectories of estimated Parameters

Figure 9 Iteration errors of simulating responses

Figure 7 (a) Initial Measured versus Simulated Responses

3.1 Sensitivity analyses of parameters estimation


As the parameter R1 is measured conventionally, it is
important to analyze the sensitivity of others parameters for
the resistance variation at +/-5%.
Figure 10 shows that the sub transient inductance (eq. 3) is
almost independent of the assumed R1 parameter. All other
estimated parameters are R1-dependent.

procedures by means of IEC and IEEE. Each method has the


respective parameter to be determined, as follows:
 R1 Kelvin Bridge or Method of Ohms Law
(voltage / current);
 LL Applied voltage test with rotor removed
 Lmd=Ld LL (Ld is determined from the Saturation
and short circuit curves).
The parameters of table 1 were used as reference and
acceptance criteria of the proposed method.

Figure 10: Analyzes of the effect of R1 on Ld


The sensitivity results show that the proposed method is able
to correctly identify sub transitory inductances, but is not able
to separate all the parameters that represent a machine with
damper windings. As in the tested PMG, there are no damper
windings and the method is able to identify the important
parameters.
The sensitivity analysis of LL into Lmd shows that they are
well correlated, as expected. Figure 11 shows that a 1%
dispersion inductance accuracy results in 10% of mutual
inductance accuracy. As the relationship between Lmd and
LL is approximately 10, even if LL is incorrect (or Lmd),
their sum tends to be correct. As their sum is defined as the
direct inductance, the method can also be used to determine
this important value, even in a machine with a damper
winding.

Table 1: DC step voltage parameter determinations on a


conventional synchronous machine
Parameters Reference DC Step
Standard
(***)
(**)
Deviation
R1 (ohm)
0.3294
--LL (H)
0.0112
0.0184*
-39 %
Lmd (H)
0.190
0.183
4%
Lmq (H)
0.094
0.112
-14 %
Ld (H)
0.201
0.202
-0.5 %
Lq (H)
0.105
0.127
-18 %
* Leakage inductance (LL) was determined on direct axis
estimation and the result was fixed to estimate the quadrature
parameters.
** For each phase the rotor was positioned at maximum and
minimum flux and the test was performed six times. The
results are the mean of the six obtained values.
*** Lq reference was taken from design. Other reference
values were obtained by IEC and IEEE procedures.
Both methods yielded the same value for Ld. The difference
of Lq values can be justified by the fact that reference is not
experimental.
Differences between the classical and the DC step method for
the determination of the damping winding parameters were
almost 100%. Previous studies [12] have improved this
method measuring the field winding current. However, as
these currents cannot be measured in PMG, it is not possible
to correctly identify all the inductances of figure 5 by the
proposed method.

Figure 11: Graphic of Lmd versus leakage inductance in pu of


mean value.

3.2 DC step voltage applied to a conventional synchronous


generator
In order to verify the proposed test procedure to determine
electrical parameters of PMG, the DC step voltage method
was applied to a conventional synchronous generator. The
parameter references were listed at table 1. The first column
is related to the determination of standardized traditional

In this condition, an initial verification of the system order is


necessary. To this end, a parameter estimation using a first
order model can be performed. Figure 12 shows that if R1 is
well known, the method does not converge to a good solution
if the system order is not correct. The comparison between
the current behavior displayed in figure 12 and in figure 7.b
shows that it is possible to verify the system order prior to the
identification of parameters.

PMG parameters were freely estimated on direct axis (Ld). As


LL and Lmd are serial connected according to the model of
figure 7, during the estimation process it is only possible to
correctly define the sum of LL and Lmd. In the proposed
method, LL was obtained in the direct axis estimation and
used in the quadrature axis estimation. For better results, LL
can be determined by means of IEC or IEEE methods.
Results show that the Lq is almost three times the Ld. This
significant difference is uncommon in conventional
synchronous machines. According to Miller [9], PMG should
have inductances Ld < Lq due to the high reluctance of the
permanent magnets. When the rotor is positioned on
quadrature axis between the permanent magnets where flux is
facing laminated steel with low reluctances, inductances
increase. However, the design of this particular machine does
not completely explain the difference.
Figure 12- First order model results

3.3 DC Step voltage on a PMG synchronous generator


The Wind Power PMG generator prototype was designed
without damper coils; the equivalent circuit is demonstrated
at figure 13; the parameters to be identified are:
 Stator Resistance (R1)
 Leakage Inductance (LL)
 Magnetization Inductance (Lmd or Lmq)

It is necessary to consider that the DC step voltage test


determines incremental inductances, i.e., the flux variation
occurs in the tangential point of the saturation curve [4]. As
direct axis inductances are mainly saturated due to the high
reluctance of permanent magnets, Ld results are smaller than
the synchronous inductance.

4 Conclusions
Due to many limitations to perform electrical tests on PMG, a
method based on DC step voltage was developed and allowed
the determination of direct and quadrature axes in a 660kW
PMG. This method proved to be equivalent to conventional
ones regarding the parameters results in a large classical
machine.

Acknowledgements
Figure 13: Electrical circuit of a PMG.
Table 2: PMG synchronous machine parameters through DC
step voltage.
Parameters
Values
Standard
(mean)
Deviation
R1
12,7 m
1%
LL
0,36 mH
12%
Lmd
0,71 mH
2%
Lmq
2,60 mH
7%
1,06 m
Ld
5%
2,97 m
Lq
5%
The DC step voltage was applied to the three phases (1-2, 1-3
and 2-3) with the rotor positioned on direct and quadrature
axes position. The mean values of phase results are listed at
table 2.
In order to analyze the results, the standard deviations of the
parameters were calculated. These standard deviations show
that the proposed method has a useful precision.

The authors would like to thank WEG Equipamentos


Eletricos S.A. for the tested machines and also for the use of
their laboratory facilities to perform the tests.

References
[1] T., Ackermann; Wind Power in Power Systems. John
Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chichester, UK, 2005.
[2] B. Adkins, R.G. Harley The general theory of alternating
current machines, application to practical problems.
Chapman and Hall, London, UK, 1979
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On the synchronous machine parameter identification.
Workshop on Electrical Machines Parameters, Technical
University of Cluj-Napoca, pp. 87-90 (2001).

[4] G. El-Murr; D. Giaouris; J.W. Finch; Online crosscoupling and self incremental inductances determination of
salient permanent magnet synchronous machines. Newcastle
University UK, pp. 1-4, (2010).
[5] IEEE Guide: test procedures for synchronous machines.
Part I- Acceptance and performance testing, Part II- test
procedures and parameter determination for dynamic
analysis, IEEE Std 115-1995
[6] J. Kinnunen; Direct-on-line, Axial Flux Permanent
Magnet Synchronous Generator Static and Dynamic
Performance. Ph. D Dissertation, Lappeenranta University of
Technology, Finland, p. 170 (2007).
[7] B. Klckl; Measurement Based Parameter Determination
of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines. Ph. D
Dissertation, Graz University of Technology, Austria, p. 116,
(2001).
[8] G. Michalke; Variable speed wind turbines Modelling,
Control, and Impact on Power Systems. Ph.D Dissertation,
Technische Universitat Darmstadt, Germany, p. 211, (2008).
[9] T.J.E. Miller; Brushless Permanent-Magnet and
Reluctance Motor Drives. Oxford University Press, New
York, USA, (1989).
[10] Rotating electrical machines - Part 4: Methods for
determining synchronous machine quantities from tests. IEC
60034-4, 2008
[11] M.S. Sarma; Synchronous Machine (Their Theory,
Stability and Excitation Systems). Gordon and Breach Science
Publishers, New York, USA, (1979)
[12] A. Tumageaniam; A. Keyhani; Identification of
synchronous machine linear parameters from standstill step
voltage input data. IEEE transaction on Energy Conversion,
Vol. 10, pp. 232-240, (1995).

Walter Evaldo Kuchenbecker is


Engineering Supervisor with
expertise in electrical machines at
WEG Equipamentos Eltricos S.A.
and MsC student of the PostGraduation program at the UFABC
University. His work and research
topics are Large PMG performing
tests.

Julio Carlos Teixeira member of


IEEE, professor at Universidade
Federal do ABC (UFABC). His
graduation (1983). and MSc title in
Electrical Engineering from USP,
Brazil He obtained his Ph.D.
degree in INPG, France (1994).

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