Harmonic Winding Research Articles

A Novel Rotor Harmonic Winding Configuration for the Brushless Wound Rotor Synchronous Machine

In the last decade, permanent magnet (PM)-free or hybrid PM machines have been extensively researched to find an alternative for high cost rare-earth PM machines. Brushless wound rotor synchronous machines (BL-WRSMs) are one of the alternatives to these PM machines. BL-WRSMs have a lower torque density compared to PM machines. In this paper, a new topology is introduced to improve the torque producing capability of the existing BL-WRSM by utilizing the vacant spaces in the rotor slots. The new topology has two harmonic windings placed on the rotor which induce separate currents. A capacitor is used between the two harmonic windings to bring the currents in phase with each other. The harmonic winding currents are fed to the rectifier which is also placed on the rotor. Due to additional harmonic winding, the overall field current fed to the rotor field winding has been increased and hence the average torque has also increased. Finite element analysis (FEA)-based simulations are performed using ANSYS Maxwell to validate the proposed topology. The results show that the average torque of the machine has been significantly increased compared to the reference model. The detailed comparison results are provided in this paper.

Torque Ripple Reduction in Brushless Wound Rotor Vernier Machine Using Third-Harmonic Multi-Layer Winding

This article aims to realize the brushless operation of a wound rotor vernier machine (WRVM) by a third-harmonic field produced through stator auxiliary winding (X). In the conventional model, a third-harmonic current is generated by connecting a 4-pole armature and 12-pole excitation windings serially with a three-phase diode rectifier to develop a pulsating field in the airgap of a machine. However, in the proposed model, the ABC winding is supplied by a three-phase current source inverter, whereas the auxiliary winding (X) carries no current due to an open circuit. The fundamental MMF component developed in the machine airgap creates a four-pole stator field, while the third-harmonic MMF induces the harmonic current in the specialized rotor harmonic winding. The rotor on the other side contains the harmonic and the field windings connected through a full-bridge rectifier. The electromagnetic interaction of the stator and rotor fields generates torque. Due to the open-circuited winding pattern, the proposed machine results in a low torque ripple. A 2D model is designed using JMAG-Designer, and 2D field element analysis (FEA) is carried out to determine the output torque and machine’s efficiency. A comparative performance analysis of both the conventional and proposed topologies is discussed graphically. The quantitative analysis of the proposed topology shows better performance as compared to the recently developed third-harmonic-based brushless WRVM topology in terms of output torque and torque ripples.

Field Modulation and Torque Production Mechanism in Dual-PM Reluctance Machines with Harmonic Winding

Field Modulation and Torque Production Mechanism in Dual-PM Reluctance Machines with Harmonic Winding

Sub-harmonic-based Cost-effective Brushless Wound Rotor Synchronous Machine Topology

This paper proposes a sub-harmonic-based brushless wound rotor synchronous machine (WRSM) topology. The proposed topology involves two three-phase stator windings with a different number of turns. Both windings are linked in parallel and are provided with current from a single inverter. One of these windings is a four-pole winding while the second winding is a two-pole winding. This arrangement generates a magneto-motive force (MMF) in the air-gap of the machine comprising of two components: a regular fundamental MMF and a sub-harmonic MMF. The fundamental component produces the main stator field whereas the sub-harmonic component generates a sub-harmonic field that is utilized to produce a harmonic current in a two-pole rotor harmonic winding. The induced harmonic current is rectified to inject direct current (DC) to the field winding and produce a four-pole rotor magnetic field. The four-pole rotor magnetic field when magnetically interacts with the same number of the main stator field poles producing torque. Finite element analysis (FEA) is carried out to confirm the operation and achieve the electromagnetic behavior of theproposed topology.

Novel Double Mode Dual-Stator Wound Rotor Synchronous Machine for Variable Speed Applications

This paper offers a novel dual-mode double stator wound rotor synchronous machine for variable speed applications. The proposed motor integrates the benefits of both the traditional wound rotor synchronous machine (WRSM) and brushless wound rotor synchronous machine (BL-WRSM). A constant torque can be attained in the maximum torque per ampere region by operating the proposed machine as a traditional WRSM in Mode I, and a constant power can be attained in the field-weakening region by operating it as a BL-WRSM in Mode II. Moreover, due to the dual-stator structure, the proposed machine exhibits improved performance in terms of high torque density as compared to the existing single stator BL-WRSM. By using a special stator winding arrangement to achieve the sub-harmonic component of the stator magnetomotive force, the brushless operation of the proposed machine is achieved. The additional sub-harmonic component induces a voltage in the harmonic winding placed on the rotor, which is then rectified and provided a DC current to field winding for brushless excitation. In order to validate the effectiveness of the proposed machine, a two-dimensional finite element analysis (FEA) is carried out.

Study of Transformer Harmonic Loss Characteristic in Distribution Network Based on Field-Circuit Coupling Method

One of the primary causes of additional losses in dry-type distribution transformers is harmonic disturbances in the distribution network. It is critical to investigate the change law of trans-former losses under harmonic conditions. The effect of harmonics on transformer core losses and winding losses is first investigated in this paper. The field-circuit coupling method is then used to create a finite element model of a three-phase phase dry type distribution transformer. Finally, the relationship between core loss and harmonic voltage, winding loss and harmonic current is calculated and analyzed for each harmonic frequency. The AC resistance factor model is found to be more accurate than the conventional model in calculating transformer harmonic winding losses. This paper’s findings have significant theoretical implications for the analysis of harmonic losses and loss reduction in distribution networks.

A Novel High-Order-Harmonic Winding Design Method for Vernier Reluctance Machine With DC Coils Across Two Stator Teeth

Vernier reluctance machine (VRM) with dc field coils in stator is a competitive rare-earth-free design for variable-speed industrial applications due to its robust structure and controllable excitation, while its torque density is relatively disadvantageous. To address this issue, this article proposes a new armature winding design method for VRM with dc field coils across two stator teeth. The key is to break the traditional winding design principle based on the flux modulation effect of fundamental dc field harmonic, and instead, reconstruct a novel harmonic winding to enhance the utilization factor of the modulated high-order dc field harmonics arising from the unique magnetomotive force distribution of dc field coils across two stator teeth. By this means, the torque density can be improved by 75.6% against the existing poor counterpart. In this article, the machine structure and operation principle are introduced, with emphasis on the high-order dc field harmonics distribution rule and its influence on the armature winding design. By finite element design and optimization, a comparative study is performed to evaluate the electromagnetic performance of VRMs using two different winding configurations with variable slot pole combinations. A prototype is fabricated and tested, and the results agree well with finite element analysis, which verifies the feasibility and advantages of the proposed winding design method.

Brushless Excitation Principle and Experimental Verification of Hybrid Excitation Synchronous Generator Based on Harmonic Magnetic Field

It is well known that the air-gap magnetic field of the permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) is difficult to adjust. To overcome this challenge while maintaining the brushless feature of PMSGs, a hybrid excitation synchronous generator (HESG) based on inherent third harmonic field induction is proposed in this paper. The HESG adds a set of third harmonic windings with a pitch of 1/3 of the armature winding in the stator core and a set of harmonic windings with the same pitch as the third harmonic winding in the rotor core. Due to electromagnetic induction, the third harmonic field established by third harmonic windings in the stator induces the harmonic electromotive force (EMF) of six times the frequency in the rotor harmonic winding. This harmonic EMF is directly provided to the rotor excitation winding after rectifying by the diode rotating rectifier. The HESG has armature windings and third harmonic windings in the stator, and excitation windings, harmonic windings and permanent magnets in the rotor. In this article, the mechanism of stator third harmonic winding EMF, rotor harmonic EMF, and the brushless excitation are elaborated. The experimental results of adjustable armature winding voltages with controlling the stator third harmonic winding current have proven the feasibility of the proposed brushless excitation principle based on the third harmonic.

Novel Self-Excited Brush-Less Wound Field Vernier Machine Topology

To realize the brush-less operation for wound field vernier machines (WFVMs), a novel self-excited topology is proposed in this paper which involves a four-pole main armature winding and a two-pole excitation winding connected in series using an uncontrolled rectifier. Upon supplying current from a single current-controlled voltage source inverter (VSI), this procedure results in four-pole and two-pole magnetomotive force (MMF) components in the airgap. The four-pole MMF produces the main stator field while the two-pole MMF component develops a sub-harmonic field in the airgap. The rotor is altered to house a forty-four-pole rotor field and two-pole harmonic windings. The two-pole harmonic field is employed to induce a current in the harmonic winding, which is rectified by means of a full-bridge diode rectifier to energize the rotor field winding and realize brush-less operation for WFVM. Two-dimensional finite element analysis (2-D FEA) is implemented in JMAG-Designer to confirm the operation of the proposed WFVM topology and attain the electromagnetic performance for a four-pole, twenty-four-slot outer-rotor vernier machine.

Novel Hybrid Consequent-Pole Brushless Wound Rotor Synchronous Machine for Improving Torque Characteristics

This article introduces a hybrid consequent-pole brushless wound rotor synchronous machine (CP-BL-WRSM). The CP-BL-WRSM installs permanent magnets (PMs) on the alternative rotor poles. Compared with the conventional BL-WRSM and permanent magnet-assisted brushless WRSM (PM-BL-WRSM), the proposed machine provides advantages of high average output torque, high maximum torque, and high starting torque. In addition, the proposed CP-BL-WRSM’s torque ripple is also lower than the conventional brushless WRSM. The volume of PM in the CP-BL-WRSM machine is lower than the conventional permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSMs) and PM-BL-WRSM. In this brushless topology, the machine uses three-phase stator windings powered by a single inverter, which provides a unique armature current to the stator windings that comprises of fundamental and third-harmonic components. The fundamental current component is used to generate the main stator field, and the third-harmonic current component is used to induce a harmonic current in the harmonic winding. A diode rectifier installed on the rotor is used to rectify the harmonic current. After the rectification, a direct current (DC) is injected into the field winding of the rotor to form a rotor magnetic field and achieve brushless operation. In order to verify the operation of the proposed CP-BL-WRSM topology and analyze its performance, 2-D finite element analysis (FEA) was used in JMAG-Designer. Finally, the performance of the proposed CP-BL-WRSM topology was compared with the conventional BL-WRSM topology and PM-BL-WRSM topology to verify its higher starting torque, higher average torque, and higher maximum torque and higher minimum torque. The proposed topology can replace the existing highly expensive PM synchronous machines (PMSMs) due to its less PM volume and conventional BL-WRSMs due to its better performance.

Novel Sub-Harmonic-Based Self-Excited Brushless Wound Rotor Synchronous Machine

This article aims to realize a self-excited wound rotor synchronous machine (WRSM) topology established while considering the subharmonic field excitation scheme. Unlike the conventional subharmonic-based brushless WRSMs that require a dual-inverter configuration, the proposed topology uses a single inverter and a dual-armature winding pattern. The employed dual-armature winding configuration involves a four-pole main armature winding (ABC) and a two-pole open winding (X). The ABC winding is supplied with a three-phase current from a single customary current source inverter (CSI), whereas the X winding carries no current due to its open winding pattern and is responsible for generating subharmonic magnetomotive force (MMF) in the air gap along with the fundamental-harmonic MMF. The fundamental-harmonic MMF is utilized to create a four-pole stator field, while the subharmonic MMF is used to induce the harmonic current in the two-pole harmonic winding of the rotor. The generated harmonic current is rectified to energize the rotor field winding and develop a four-pole rotor field. The electromagnetic interaction of the four-pole stator and rotor fields generates torque. As the proposed subharmonic-based self-excited brushless WRSM employs a single inverter for its brushless operation, this makes it cost-effective compared to the conventional dual-inverter subharmonic-based brushless WRSM topologies. The proposed self-excited brushless WRSM topology is validated through the finite-element analysis (FEA). JMAG-Designer tool is employed to carry out FEA for a four-pole, 24-slot (4p24s) machine. The quantitative relative performance evaluation of the proposed self-excited WRSM topology with the recently developed dual-inverter-controlled subharmonic-based brushless WRSM topology is presented to show its better performance in terms of average, maximum, and minimum torques and torque ripple.

Cost-Effective Scheme for a Brushless Wound Rotor Synchronous Machine

This paper proposes a new scheme for a brushless wound rotor synchronous machine (WRSM) by generating an additional, two-pole component of magneto-motive force (MMF) with a series-connected additional three-phase winding with the armature three-phase winding. Unlike existing brushless excitation schemes, which use the inverter to inject harmonic currents in the stator windings, the proposed scheme uses series-connected additional winding on the stator with the armature winding in a two-pole configuration. Consequently, as the current flows in the armature winding, it creates a fundamental rotating air gap flux to interact with the field flux. At the same time, additional rotating flux is created from the additional three-phase winding, which cannot synchronize with the field winding. This additional flux can cause the induction of a voltage in a winding with exactly the same number of poles. For this purpose, a harmonic winding is installed in the rotor along with the field winding connected through a diode bridge rectifier, in order to feed the direct current (DC) to the field winding for rotor excitation without an input current from the brush-slip-ring assembly. The 2D finite-element analysis (FEA) was performed to validate the brushless operation of the proposed machine system.

Novel Single Inverter-Controlled Brushless Wound Field Synchronous Machine Topology

This paper proposes a novel brushless excitation topology for a three-phase synchronous machine based on a customary current-controlled voltage source inverter (VSI). The inverter employs a simple hysteresis-controller-based current control scheme that enables it to inject a three-phase armature current to the stator winding which contains a dc offset. This dc offset generates an additional air gap magneto-motive force (MMF). On the rotor side, an additional harmonic winding is mounted to harness the harmonic power from the air gap flux. Since a third harmonic flux is generated in this type of topology, the machine structure is also modified to accommodate the third harmonic rotor winding to have a voltage induced as the rotor rotates at synchronous speed. Specifically, four-pole armature and field winding patterns are used, whereas the harmonic winding is configured for a twelve-pole pattern. A diode rectifier is also mounted on the rotor between the harmonic and field windings. Therefore, the generated voltage on the harmonic winding feeds the current to the field winding for excitation. A 2D-finite element analysis (FEA) in JMAG-Designer was carried out for performance evaluation and verification of the topology. The simulation results are consistent with the proposed theory. The topology could reduce the cost and stator winding volume compared to a conventional brushless machine, with good potential for various applications.

High-Efficient Brushless Wound Rotor Synchronous Machine Topology Based on Sub-Harmonic Field-Excitation Technique

This paper presents a new high-efficient three-phase brushless wound rotor synchronous machine (BL-WRSM) based on a sub-harmonic field excitation technique. In the proposed machine topology, the stator is equipped with two different three-phase windings: (1) main armature winding, and (2) additional armature winding. The main armature winding is based on a 4-pole winding configuration, whereas the additional armature winding is based on a 2-pole winding configuration. Both windings are supplied current from two different inverters, i.e., inverter-1, inverter-2, and simultaneously. Inverter-1 provides the regular input current to the main armature winding, whereas inverter-2 provides a three-phase current of low magnitude to the 2-pole additional armature winding. This generates an additional sub-harmonic component of MMF in the airgap beside the fundamental MMF. On the other side, the rotor is equipped with (1) harmonic, and (2) field windings. These windings are electrically coupled via a rectifier. The fundamental component of MMF produces the main rotating magnetic field, whereas the sub-harmonic MMF gets induced in the harmonic winding to produce harmonic current. This current is rectified to give DC to the rotor field winding to attain brushless operation. To authenticate the operation and analyze its performance, the proposed BL-WRSM topology is supported using 2-D finite element analysis (FEA) in JMAG-Designer. Later on, the performance of the proposed brushless topology is compared with the customary BL-WRSM topology to verify its high efficiency, high output torque, low torque ripple, and low unbalanced radial force on the rotor.

Simplified Brushless Wound Field Synchronous Machine Topology Based on a Three-Phase Rectifier

This paper proposes a novel simplified brushless wound field synchronous machine (BL-WFSM) topology based on an uncontrolled three-phase rectifier. The output of the rectifier is injected into the common point of the star-connected three-phase armature winding. This arrangement develops an armature MMF consisting of two components: the fundamental MMF, which is rotating in nature, and the harmonic pulsating magnetic field, which induces the harmonic current in the specially designed harmonic winding of the rotor. The induced harmonic current is rectified through the full-bridge rectifier, which excites the main rotor field to achieve brushless operation and produce torque while interacting with the main fundamental rotating field of the armature. The proposed brushless topology is simple as it involves a single three-phase rectifier which does not require any complicated control strategy. Furthermore, this topology is a cost-effective solution as compared to the conventional brushless WFSM topologies since it does not require any additional hardware component except for a typical rectifier. In addition, the performance of the proposed brushless topology is better than the existing three-phase rectifier-based brushless scheme in terms of efficiency, output torque, and torque ripple. The proposed simplified BL-WFSM topology is validated through 2-D finite element analysis (FEA) using JMAG-Designer 19.1 to obtain the output torque of the machine.

VPSO-SVM-Based Open-Circuit Faults Diagnosis of Five-Phase Marine Current Generator Sets

Generating electricity from enormous energy contained in oceans is an important means to develop and utilize marine sustainable energy. An offshore marine current generator set (MCGS) is a system that runs in seas to produce electricity from tremendous energy in tidal streams. MCGSs operate in oceanic environments with high humidity, saline-alkali water, and impacts of marine organisms and waves, and consequently malfunctions can happen along with the need for expensive inspection and maintenance. In order to achieve effective fault diagnosis of MCGSs in events of failure, this paper focuses on fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) of MCGSs based on five-phase permanent magnet synchronous generators (FP-PMSGs) with the third harmonic windings (THWs). Firstly, mathematical models were built for a hydraulic turbine and the FP-PMSG with THWs; then, a fault detection method based on empirical mode decomposition (EMD) and Hilbert transform (HT) was studied to detect different open-circuit faults (OCFs) of the generator; afterwards, a variable-parameter particle swarm optimization (VPSO) was designed to optimize the penalty and kernel function parameters of a support vector machine (SVM), which was named the VPSO-SVM method in this paper and used to perform fault diagnosis of the FP-PMSG. Finally, simulation blocks were built with MATLAB/Simulink to realize the mathematical models of the MCGS, and the proposed FDD method was coded with MATLAB. The effectiveness of the proposed VPSO-SVM method was validated by simulation results analysis and comparisons.

Brushless Field Excitation Scheme for Wound Field Synchronous Machines

A new harmonic field excitation technique for the brushless operation of wound field synchronous machines (WFSMs) is proposed in this paper. The proposed scheme involves conventional three-phase and single-phase inverters operating at different frequencies and supply input current to the armature winding simultaneously. This results in a composite output current of the inverters, which contains fundamental as well as the third harmonic current components. The fundamental is utilized to develop the stator field, on the other hand, the third harmonic is used for developing the pulsating magnetomotive force (MMF) in the airgap. This MMF produces a harmonic current in the harmonic winding of the rotor which is later rectified to inject field current to the rotor field winding. The theoretical analysis of the proposed technique is supported using 2-D finite element analysis (FEA).

A New Small-Scale Self-Excited Wound Rotor Synchronous Motor Topology

In this article, a new low-cost small-scale three-phase brushless motor topology is proposed. This is a new topology for self-excitation of brushless wound rotor synchronous motor investigated initially for rated speed. For brushless excitation, the stator is designed to contain two windings, namely, three-phase armature winding and exciter winding. The rotor consists of two windings, that is, harmonic winding and field winding, and a diode rectifier. An inverter feeds the three-phase armature winding which is connected in series through an uncontrolled three-phase rectifier to a single exciter winding. When the current is supplied from the inverter, both the armature and exciter windings are energized eventually producing a flux in the air gap. Since the flux produced by the exciter winding is not synchronized with the field winding, it produces a harmonic to be intercepted by the harmonic winding on the rotor. Eventually, the voltage produced in the harmonic winding is used to feed dc current to the field winding for brushless operation. The results obtained by 2-D finite-element analysis (FEA) validate the brushless operation of the motor. The proposed motor is analyzed basically for topology verification with the FEA results. Since the topology can be verified, further effort can be put to investigate such low-cost topologies for brushless wound rotor synchronous motor. It can be an alternative to a costly permanent magnet synchronous motor for specific applications.

Dual-Inverter-Controlled Brushless Operation of Wound Rotor Synchronous Machines Based on an Open-Winding Pattern

In an open-winding machine, three-phase stator currents can be controlled such that the input armature currents may contain the third-harmonic current component in addition to the fundamental. Considering this attribute of open-winding patterns, a harmonic current field excitation technique for a wound rotor synchronous machine (WRSM) is proposed in this paper based on the control of time-harmonic magneto-motive force. Two inverters connected to both terminals of the stator winding are controlled so that the input armature current generates an additional third-harmonic current component. This third-harmonic component generates a vibrating magnetic field that induces a current in the specially designed rotor harmonic winding. The current is supplied as DC current to the rotor excitation winding to generate a rotor field by using a full-bridge diode rectifier in order to achieve brushless operation. The proposed dual-inverter-controlled brushless operation for a WRSM is executed in ANSYS Maxwell using 2-D finite element analysis to validate its operation and electromagnetic performance.

Research on a hybrid excitation PM synchronous generator with stator third harmonic winding excitation

This study presents a hybrid excitation permanent magnet synchronous generator (HEPMSG) with a stator third harmonic winding to solve the problems of adjusting the air-gap magnetic field of the permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) and simplify the excitation system structure. The electromotive force (EMF) of the stator third harmonic winding, induced by the inherent third harmonic magnetic field in the air gap, provides the adjustable field current for the rotor field winding via the controllable rectification. The proposed machine structure is described, and the generation mechanism and the excitation principle of the stator third harmonic EMF are analysed. The conditions for maximum excitation current output are discussed, and the integrated design methods of the stator third harmonic winding and the rotor excitation winding are described. Based on the finite element method, the performances of the third harmonic excitation system are numerically compared for different stator third harmonic windings, and the open-circuit voltage regulation characteristics under different control angles are analysed. A 2.5 kW HEPMSG prototype with a stator third harmonic winding is manufactured and tested. The predicted and experimental results are in good agreement, which verifies the correctness of the excitation principle of the proposed HEPMSG.