Segmented permanent magnet synchronous machines for wind energy conversion system

Abstract

Direct drive generator is favorable in wind energy conversion system (WECS), as it eliminates the vibration, noise, and losses from the gear used in geared-drive wind generators.However, the direct drive wind generator suffers from the large size and heavy weight problem.The purpose of this research project is to design a generator with improved performance for the direct drive WECS.A new concept segmented permanent magnet (PM) machine was introduced, whose proposed features show that it is very suitable for the application of direct drive wind generator.The analytical models for both single-airgap and double-aigap segmented PM machines were built for initial design. Then finite element models were created to further investigate the characteristics and performance of this type of machine.To optimize the segmented PM machine, a finite element analysis based machine design optimization program was developed. This program use differential evolution, a powerful optimization algorithm, to provide outer shell, leading to fast convergence. And the adoption of FE analysis guarantees the accuracy of results. Compared to initial designs, the optimized segmented PM machine' torque density has been significantly improved, along with reduction in total active material cost.ii

Deployment of onshore wind turbine generator topologies: Opportunities and challenges

“…Such cost is however avoided using multi-phase winding system, which provides a lower short-circuit torque values than that of a conventional three-phase system. 32 Additional advantages of the multi-phase winding system are fault-tolerance 33 and amenability to segmented winding designs, enabling ease of assembly and installation, 34 thereby easing logistics burden. It also increases the availability of power in the event of loss of windings one or two winding systems.…”

Multiple-airgap iron-cored direct-driven permanent magnet wind generators

“…In fact, application of MAG machines in wind turbines has already been considered in, for example [8], [9], [10], [11].…”