Parameter independent vector control of brushless Doubly-fed reluctance generators

The paper is concerned with voltage vector oriented control of a brushless doubly-fed reluctance generator (BDFRG) having grid-connected wind turbines as one of the main target applications. By using a fractional inverter, this promising generator technology could offer competitive performance and similar cost savings to its commercially popular slip-ring cousin, the doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG), but with the additional bonuses of maintenance-free operation and high reliability of brushless structure. The presented simulation and laboratory test results for an entirely machine parameter independent speed and reactive power control algorithm under various loading conditions of the BDFRG prototype, including those typically encountered in wind energy conversion systems, have been shown to be in good agreement clearly demonstrating the controller effectiveness and accuracy of the simulation model.