Space and time harmonics related problems and their mitigation for position and speed sensorless slip-ring induction motor drives applications

Abstract

There have been renewed interests in slip-ring induction machines due to their increasing use in both grid connected and stand-alone wind power generation schemes. Despite the squirrel cage induction generators’ advantages of being brushless, low-cost, needing less maintenance and having inherent overload protection, the biggest advantage of variable-speed wound rotor induction machines is in its doubled energy capture. Also in high power induction motor drives such as static Kramer drives or static Scherbius drives use of wound rotor induction motors is a must. Thus it becomes necessary to measure the speed of the machine for closed loop control for such high performance drives. Recently, a sensorless position and speed estimation scheme was proposed for wound rotor wind power generator. In this paper, the limitation of the scheme caused by space and time harmonics have been investigated. Simulation results have been presented to explain the mechanism of the space and time harmonics caused distortion of current. Experimental results showing the deterioration of speed detection scheme at light load for a slip-ring induction motor have been presented. Finally, improvements have been applied experimentally to obtain better speed estimation.