Power factor correction in a turbine-generator-converter system

Abstract

The paper describes a special system, based on the application of the cogeneration principle, that makes it possible to generate electric and heat energy by utilizing alternative, renewable and waste energies. The basis of the solution is a system that consists of a high-speed turbine, coupled to a three-phase synchronous generator, a three-phase AC/AC converter and a microprocessor supervisory control unit. The function of the system is to utilize the energy content of some working medium by a special turbine. The turbine is developed for various working media of low energy content. Generally the system, beside heat energy, is producing electric energy, that can be utilised directly to supply loads in stand-alone mode or feeding it back to existing utility mains, in the latter case the converter, connected in parallel to the mains, can also serve as a source of reactive power and higher harmonic current components, as described in the paper.