Os motores de corrente contínua convencionais são muito bem conhecidos pela sua robustez e pelo seu alto nível de controlabilidade, alem do fato de possibilitarem a operação na região de enfraquecimento de campo (modo motor), quando esta situação se fizer necessária. Por estas características, as máquinas de corrente contínua ainda são empregadas nos dias atuais em nichos específicos de utilização. Não obstante, a máquina c.c. apresenta algumas desvantagens, principalmente a intensiva e dispendiosa manutenção eletromecânica necessária para sua operação. Como opção de sanar este problema, surgiram na década de 60, as máquinas elétricas de corrente contínua sem escovas (brushless) com excitação por ímãs permanentes de fluxo trapezoidal. O problema destas máquinas se deve justamente a impossibilidade da variação de fluxo de excitação uma vez que são produzidos puramente pelos ímãs. Sendo assim, este trabalho tem como propósito, o estudo de topologias diferenciadas da máquina elétrica, através de um circuito magnético não convencional para aplicação e utilização em sistemas de tração elétrica para operação na região de enfraquecimento de campo através da variação do fluxo resultante no entreferro. Como objeto de estudo, foi focada a topologia de fluxo axial com excitação híbrida, ou seja, dupla excitação (excitação a ímãs permanentes e excitação elétrica). Para o projeto da topologia proposta, nesta tese, adicionalmente ao método analítico, foram realizadas simulações computacionais para a comparação e refinamento dos resultados das grandezas eletromagnéticas da máquina. / DC motors haves been used for almost two centuries. They are very well known not only its excellent torque response, but also because they can operate at the flux weakening region, when this situation is required. Due these characteristics, nowadays, the dc machines haves been used in specific niches of utilization. Nonetheless, this sort of machine presents a disadvantage, specifically the problem of exhaustive electromechanical maintenance required. In order to solve this type of problem, during the 1960\'s, the permanent magnet trapezoidal brushless dc machines were developed. The problem in this kind of machine is the dificulty to obtain excitation flux variation, since there is only a permanent magnet excitation system. Hence, the aim of this thesis is a study of non conventional electric machines topology for application and utilization in electric traction systems for operation at weakening flux region through the changing of resulting air-gap flux. As purpose of the study, an axial flux hybrid excitation topology was focused, i.e, a double excitation system (a permanent excitation and an electric excitation) to make its operation at the constant power region possible keeping the flux density level in the critical parts of the machine under the saturation point. Additionally, for design the topology proposed, in this thesis, computational simulations were done in order to compare with the results obtained from the analytical method.

Os motores de corrente contínua convencionais são muito bem conhecidos pela sua robustez e pelo seu alto nível de controlabilidade, alem do fato de possibilitarem a operação na região de enfraquecimento de campo (modo motor), quando esta situação se fizer necessária. Por estas características, as máquinas de corrente contínua ainda são empregadas nos dias atuais em nichos específicos de utilização. Não obstante, a máquina c.c. apresenta algumas desvantagens, principalmente a intensiva e dispendiosa manutenção eletromecânica necessária para sua operação. Como opção de sanar este problema, surgiram na década de 60, as máquinas elétricas de corrente contínua sem escovas (brushless) com excitação por ímãs permanentes de fluxo trapezoidal. O problema destas máquinas se deve justamente a impossibilidade da variação de fluxo de excitação uma vez que são produzidos puramente pelos ímãs. Sendo assim, este trabalho tem como propósito, o estudo de topologias diferenciadas da máquina elétrica, através de um circuito magnético não convencional para aplicação e utilização em sistemas de tração elétrica para operação na região de enfraquecimento de campo através da variação do fluxo resultante no entreferro. Como objeto de estudo, foi focada a topologia de fluxo axial com excitação híbrida, ou seja, dupla excitação (excitação a ímãs permanentes e excitação elétrica). Para o projeto da topologia proposta, nesta tese, adicionalmente ao método analítico, foram realizadas simulações computacionais para a comparação e refinamento dos resultados das grandezas eletromagnéticas da máquina. / DC motors haves been used for almost two centuries. They are very well known not only its excellent torque response, but also because they can operate at the flux weakening region, when this situation is required. Due these characteristics, nowadays, the dc machines haves been used in specific niches of utilization. Nonetheless, this sort of machine presents a disadvantage, specifically the problem of exhaustive electromechanical maintenance required. In order to solve this type of problem, during the 1960\'s, the permanent magnet trapezoidal brushless dc machines were developed. The problem in this kind of machine is the dificulty to obtain excitation flux variation, since there is only a permanent magnet excitation system. Hence, the aim of this thesis is a study of non conventional electric machines topology for application and utilization in electric traction systems for operation at weakening flux region through the changing of resulting air-gap flux. As purpose of the study, an axial flux hybrid excitation topology was focused, i.e, a double excitation system (a permanent excitation and an electric excitation) to make its operation at the constant power region possible keeping the flux density level in the critical parts of the machine under the saturation point. Additionally, for design the topology proposed, in this thesis, computational simulations were done in order to compare with the results obtained from the analytical method.

The synchronous machine is one of the critical components of electric power systems. Modeling of synchronous machines is essential for power systems analyses. Electric machines are often interfaced with power electronic components. This work presents an advanced synchronous machine modeling, which emphasis on the modeling and simulation of systems that contain a mixture of synchronous machines and power electronic components. Such systems can be found in electric drive systems, dc power systems, renewable energy, and conventional synchronous machine excitation. Numerous models and formulations have been used to study synchronous machines in different applications. Herein, a unified derivation of the various model formulations, which support direct interface to external circuitry in a variety of scenarios, is presented. Selection of the formulation with the most suitable interface for the simulation scenario has better accuracy, fewer time steps, and less run time. Brushless excitation systems are widely used for synchronous machines. As a critical part of the system, rotating rectifiers have a significant impact on the system behavior. This work presents a numerical average-value model (AVM) for rotating rectifiers in brushless excitation systems, where the essential numerical functions are extracted from the detailed simulations and vary depending on the loading conditions. The proposed AVM can provide accurate simulations in both transient and steady states with fewer time steps and less run time compared with detailed models of such systems and that the proposed AVM can be combined with AVM models of other rectifiers in the system to reduce the overall computational cost. Furthermore, this work proposes an alternative formulation of numerical AVMs of machine-rectifier systems, which makes direct use of the natural dynamic impedance of the rectifier without introducing low-frequency approximations or algebraic loops. By using this formulation, a direct interface of the AVM is achieved with inductive circuitry on both the ac and dc sides allowing traditional voltage-in, current-out formulations of the circuitry on these sides to be used with the proposed formulation directly. This numerical AVM formulation is validated against an experimentally validated detailed model and compared with previous AVM formulations. It is demonstrated that the proposed AVM formulation accurately predicts the system's low-frequency behavior during both steady and transient states, including in cases where previous AVM formulations cannot predict accurate results. Both run times and numbers of time steps needed by the proposed AVM formulation are comparable to those of existing AVM formulations and significantly decreased compared with the detailed model.

The proliferation of electric machines has drastically increased in recent years and is likely to increase into the future. This interest in the production of advanced, high power density electrical machines that are small in size has heightened the need for flexible manufacturing processes to produce their laminated components during short batch and prototyping production runs. A means of cost effective, accelerated prototyping of these machines will have a substantial impact on their design and optimization, reducing time requirements to produce and test a given design. A review of the current manufacturing methods for prototyping electric machines was conducted. In particular, laser cutting, electric discharge machining, and abrasive waterjet (AWJ) machining were researched as competitive processes. Each of these methods exhibits marked advantages and disadvantages that present the opportunity for a new process to compete. This work investigates the applicability of high throughput profile milling (HTPM) for the prototyping of advanced electric machines, specifically, the process parameter space for milling of electrical steels. The material response will be determined by characterizing its specific cutting energy and utilizing this to develop a model to predict cutting forces during the milling process. Optimal process parameters will be investigated to obtain maximum productivity and minimal burr formation. Finally, the impact of HTPM processing on the magnetic properties of electrical steels will be compared to that of a leading prototyping technology, AWJ machining.

All electric machines have two mechanical operations, motoring and braking. The nature of braking can be regenerative, where the kinetic energy of the rotor is converted into electricity and sent back to the power source or non-regenerative, where the source supplies electric power to provide braking. This thesis investigates several critical issues related to regenerative braking in both DC and AC electric machines, including the determination of boundaries in the torque-speed plane defining the regenerative braking capability region and the evaluation of operating points within that capability region that result in maximum regenerative braking recharge current. Electric machines are used in the powertrains of electric and hybrid-electric vehicles to provide motoring or braking torque in response to the driver's request and power management logic. Since such vehicles carry a limited amount of electrical energy on-board their energy storage systems (such as a battery pack), it is important to conserve as much electrical energy as possible in order to increase the range of travel. Therefore, the concept of regenerative braking is of importance for such vehicles since operating in this mode during a braking event sends power back to the energy storage system thereby replenishing its energy level. Since the electric machine assists the mechanical friction braking system of the vehicle, it results in reduced wear on components within the mechanical friction brake system. As both mechanical friction braking and electric machine braking are used to provide the requested vehicle braking torque, braking strategies which relate to splitting of the braking command between the two braking mechanisms are discussed. The reduction in energy consumption of a test vehicle along different driving schedules while using different braking strategies is also studied.

This dissertation contains the results of research conducted on the design and control characterization of a Switched Reluctance Generator (SRG) for maximum output power. The SRG is an attractive solution to the increasing worldwide demand of electrical energy. It is low cost with a rugged structure, operates with high efficiency over a wide speed range, and is fault tolerant. In many applications, size and weight are the main criteria in selecting the generator. Hence, in design and control of the generator, system designers always strive for increasing power density, or in other words, maximizing the output power for a given size. Despite the extensive research on the motoring operation of the Switched Reluctance Machine, only a few publications have investigated the generating mode of operation of this machine. Results and algorithms from this research can be referenced for better utilizing the SRG in many applications. As the first stage to output power maximization, design parameters and control variables affecting the average output power of the SRG are identified through a systematic approach. The optimal values for maximizing the output power are found through an analytical approach and iterative simulations. The results are then verified experimentally. After finding the optimal values for control variables, a controller is designed. This controller is model dependent. If the model used for design is not accurate or the machine parameters are deviated from the designed values, the machine will not generate the maximum output power. Therefore, a self-tuning algorithm, based on a local search method, is proposed and experimentally tested. It works effectively and does not need extra hardware or rigorous calculations. The attempts to benefit from the SRG may look tantalizing, but it poses a challenge as well. Output power maximization can lead to an oversized SRG converter and its output filter, which will reduce the overall power density of the motor drive. The last piece of this dissertation analyzes the effect of a commutation algorithm on the output filter, reducing its size with active control of phase currents, and proposing a novel control algorithm that was investigated through experiments over all of the speed range.

No description available.

Catastrophic failure of the electric machines can result from stator inter-turn faults even at their very incipient stage i.e.. single-turn fault. Consequently, fire and explosion, loss of human life and property, extended downtime of the equipment, increased cost of repair and heavy financial losses in the industries may take place. As a recent trend, online fault diagnosis of the electric machines that are employed in critical applications has been considered of paramount importance since frequent outage of the machines for the purpose of testing cannot be recommended. In this thesis, a very accurate diagnostic scheme has been developed to unambiguously detect single-turn faults on line in squirrel cage induction machines by detecting positive and negative sequence line current third harmonic components. Initially, inadequacy has been identified in a diagnostic scheme based on negative sequence quantities of the machine and critical improvements have been realized to suppress the effects of changing supply unbalance. However the modified method fails to detect faults involving one turn short. The feasibility of computing positive and negative sequence line current third harmonic components have been proved by conducting space vector analysis. Subsequently, a detailed description upon the introduction of these line current third harmonic components is given that accounts for the effects of air gap permeance harmonics. MMF harmonics under supply unbalance, internal asymmetries as well as fault conditions. Least-square method is employed to discriminate fault signatures from those arise from other abnormal operating conditions. The implementation of the scheme is carried out on both simulated and experimental machines. Mathematical models of the induction machines have been developed which took different induction machine operating conditions into consideration. The machine has been simulated to verify the differences among different complex coefficients by computing complex line current spectra fault signatures with ideal (harmonics-free) three phase voltages input as well as experimentally collected voltages input. Further in an attempt to test the effectiveness of the diagnostic scheme under practical conditions, stator inter-turn faults associated with varying fault severities have been introduced to the line and inverter fed machines under different stator configuration. It has been demonstrated from experimental results that proposed fault signatures can achieve unambiguous single-turn fault detection. In addition the need of different coefficients for computing the positive and the negative third harmonic related fault signatures have also been demonstrated.

Transformers form a very important part of the power transmissions and distribution network; as they are responsible for the transfer of electrical energy from the power generation sites onto the transmission lines and finally to the distribution stage. Dry-type and oil-filled single-phase transformers, either alone or as a part of three-phase banks, are used extensively in the power distribution network, ultimately providing power to the domestic consumers. Any faults in the single-phase transformers leading to power outages or catastrophic power systems failures cause huge loss of capital, property and in some cases even human casualties. Gradual deterioration of the electrical winding insulation ultimately leads to inter-turn winding short circuit faults; which account for a significant proportion of all transformer failures. Incipient stages of inter-turn winding faults have negligible impact on the terminal voltages and currents of transformers; thus these faults often go undetected by the traditional differential relay based protection mechanisms. By the time, the faults manifest themselves into severe winding short-circuit faults consequently forcing the differential relays to operate for tripping the circuit breakers; a significant part of the transformer windings and core may get extensively damaged. Over the years, various techniques have been developed for detecting and studying inter-turn winding faults; however their practical implementation involves quite a few challenges such as high cost, lack of reliability, low accuracy and need for mounting additional equipment inside the transformer casing. Additionally, none of the existing techniques are suitable for online and real-time condition monitoring of the transformers. This absence of any proven technique to detect incipient levels of inter-turn winding faults in single-phase transformers has motivated the research of this thesis. In the thesis, firstly, a non-invasive technique for modeling single-phase transformers has been developed which is based solely on the terminal measurements of voltages and currents. The effects of transformer core saturation, non-linearity, hysteresis are incorporated in the model by considering a time-varying magnetizing inductance comprising of any desired number of harmonic components. The coefficients of the magnetizing inductance are computed from the instantaneous values of flux linkage and magnetizing current over one complete cycle. The model is found to replicate the behaviour of the single-phase transformer with an extremely high level of accuracy, under any load conditions for healthy as well as faulty operations. Detailed simulation and experiment based studies have been performed for corroborating the effectiveness of the proposed terminal measurement based modeling technique not only in detecting incipient stages of inter-turn winding faults (involving less than 1% of the turns) but also in estimating fault severity. Also, a non-invasive, online and real-time implementation of the proposed inter-turn winding fault detection technique for continuous monitoring of the transformer health has been suggested. Firstly, with the experimentally acquired primary line voltage and line current data of the healthy transformer, a healthy no-load model of the transformer is generated. Next, a healthy estimated indicator value, computed from this model under the given input voltage condition, is compared with the actual indicator value for detecting the presence of an inter-turn winding fault. It involves minimum hardware (only two current sensors and one voltage sensor), low memory requirements and low computational complexity and thus holds a good promise for practical applications. Further discussion is made on the possible challenges for realizing the proposed fault diagnostic technique in the industry and suitable recommendations have been made for further improvement. / Graduate / 0544 / bhowmick@uvic.ca

Thesis (PhDEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The advent of new high energy product permanent magnet materials has opened great opportunities for novel electrical machine topologies with advantageous features such as high efficiency and high power/weight ratio. Amongst others, axial field permanent magnet (AFPM) machines with ironless stators are increasingly being used in power generation applications. Because of the absence of the core losses, a generator with this type of design can operate at a substantially high efficiency. Besides, the high compactness and disc-shaped profile make this type of machine particularly suitable for compact integrated power generation systems. Due to construction problems, the generator application of this type of machine has been limited to quite a low power range. There is a need to investigate the performance capability of this type of AFPM machine in the upper medium power level. The focus of this thesis is on the design optimisation of the air-cooled AFPM generator with an ironless stator. A design approach that directly incorporates the finite element field solution in a multi-dimensional optimisation procedure is developed and applied to the design optimisation of a 300 kW (at unity power factor) AFPM generator. To enable an overall design optimisation of the machine, different design aspects, such as the cooling capacity, the mechanical strength and eddy loss, are also studied in this research. To enable the free movement of the rotor mesh with respect to the stator mesh, the air-gap element originally proposed by Razek et. al. is derived for Cartesian coordinate systems. For minimising the large computation overhead associated with this macro element, a number of existing time-saving schemes have been utilised together with the derived Cartesian air-gap element. The developed finite element time-step model is applied to calculating the steadystate performance of the AFPM machine. Since the flux distribution in an AFPM machine is three dimensional by nature, calculating the eddy current loss by merely using a simple analytical method may be subject to a significant error. To overcome this problem, the two dimensional finite element field modelling is introduced to perform accurate field analysis. To exploit the full advantages of the twodimensional finite element modelling, a multi-layer approach is proposed, which takes into account the variation of the air-gap flux density in the conductors with regard to their relative positions in the air-gap. To account for the radial variation of the field, a multi-slice finite element modelling scheme is devised. The thermal analysis is an important aspect of the design optimisation of AFPM machines. From a design point of view, it is preferable to have a simple but effective method for cooling analysis and design, which can easily be adapted to a wide range of AFPM machines. In this thesis a thermofluid model of the AFPM machine is developed. The fluid flow model is needed for calculating the air flow rate, which is then used to find the convective heat transfer coefficients. These are important parameters in the subsequent thermal calculations. Experimental investigations have been carried out to verify each of the above-mentioned models/methods. With these models implemented, the design optimisation of an air-cooled ironless stator 300 kW (at unity power factor) AFPM generator is carried out. The performance measurements done on the fabricated prototype are compared in this thesis with predicted results. The study shows that the proposed design approach can be applied with success to optimise the design of the AFPM machine. The advantages of high power density, high efficiency, no cogging torque and good voltage regulation make this type of AFPM machine very suitable for power generator applications. The optimum steady-state performance of the AFPM machine shows that this machine with an ironless stator is an excellent candidate for high speed power generator applications, even in the upper medium power level. The good cooling capacity of this type of machine holds the promise of its being a self-cooled generator at high power ratings. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die uitvinding van nuwe hoë energiedigtheid permanent magneet materiale het groot geleenthede vir nuwe elektriese masjien topologië laat ontstaan met voordelige eienskappe soos hoë benuttingsgraad en hoë drywing/gewig verhouding. Onder andere word die aksiaalveld permanente magneet (AVPM) masjiene met kernlose stators toenemend gebruik vir elektriese generator toepassings. As gevolg van die afwesigheid van kernverliese kan 'n generator met hierdie tipe ontwerp teen 'n aansienlik hoë benuttingsgraad werk. Daarbenewens maak die hoë kompaktheid en skyfvorm-profiel die masjien in besonder geskik vir die ontwikkeling van kompak geïntegreerde drywing generator stelsels. As gevolg van konstruksie probleme is die toepassing van hierdie tipe masjien as generator beperk tot redelik lae drywingsgebiede. Dit is nodig om die werkverrigtingsvermoë van hierdie tipe AVPM masjien in die boonste medium drywingsgebied te ondersoek. Die fokus van hierdie tesis is op die ontwerp-optimering van 'n lugverkoelde AVPM generator met 'n kernlose stator. 'n Ontwerpsbenadering wat die eindige element veldoplossing in 'n multi-dimensionele optimeringsprosedure insluit, is ontwikkel en toegepas op die ontwerpsoptimering van 'n 300 kW (by eenheidsarbeidsfaktor) AVPM generator. Om 'n globale ontwerpsoptimering van die masjien te kan doen is verskillende ontwerpsaspekte soos die verkoelingskapasiteit, meganiese sterkte en werwelverliese ook in hierdie navorsing bestudeer. Om die vrye beweging van die rotormaas ten opsigte van die statormaas te verseker is die lugspleet-element, soos oorspronklik deur Razek et al voorgestel, afgelei vir Cartesiaanse koórdinaat stelsels. Om die lang berekeningstyd geassosieer met hierdie makro-element te minimaliseer is 'n aantal bestaande tydbesparende metodes saam met die ontwikkelde Cartesiaanse lugspleet-element gebruik. Die ontwikkelde eindige element tydstapmodel is toegepas om die bestendige werkverrigting van die AVPM masjien te bereken. Aangesien die vloedverspreiding in 'n AVPM masjien van nature drie-dimensioneel is, kan die berekening van die werwelstroomverliese tot aansienlike foute lei as eenvoudige analitiese metodes gebruik word. Om hierdie probleem te oorkom is twee-dimensionele eindige element modellering gebruik om akkurate veld-analise te doen. Om die volle voordele van die twee- dimensionele eindige element modellering te eksploiteer is 'n multi-laag benadering voorgestel wat die variasie van die lugspleetvloeddigtheid in die geleiers met betrekking tot hulle relatiewe lugspleetposisies in ag neem. Om voorsiening te maak vir die radiale variasie van die veld, is 'n multi-skyf eindige element modelleringstegniek ontwikkel. Die termiese analise is 'n belangrike aspek van die ontwerpsoptimering van AVPM masjiene. Vanuit 'n ontwerpsoogpunt is dit verkieslik om 'n eenvoudige maar tog effektiewe metode van verkoelingsanalise en -ontwerp te hê wat maklik toegepas kan word op 'n wye reeks van AVPM masjiene. In hierdie tesis word 'n termovloeimodel van die AVPM masjien ontwikkel. Hierdie vloeimodel is nodig vir die berekening van die lugvloeitempo, wat op sy beurt weer nodig is om die konveksie hitte-oordrag koëffisiënte te bepaal. Hierdie is belangrike parameters in die opvolgende termiese berekeninge. Eksperimentele ondersoek is uitgevoer om elkeen van die bogenoemde modelle en metodes te verifieer. Nadat hierdie modelle geïmplimenteer is, is die ontwerpsoptimering van 'n 300 kW (by eenheidsarbeidsfaktor) lugverkoelde kernlose stator AVPM generator uitgevoer. Die werkverrigtingmetings gedoen op 'n vervaardigde prototipe masjien, word in hierdie tesis vergelyk met voorspelde resultate. Daar word getoon dat die voorgestelde ontwerpsbenadering met sukses toegepas kan word om die ontwerp van die AVPM masjien te optimeer. Die voordele van hoë drywingsdigtheid, hoë benuttingsgraad, geen vertandingsdraaimomente en goeie spanningsregulasie maak hierdie masjien baie aantreklik vir generator toepassings. Die optimum bestendige werkverrigting van die AVPM masjien toon dat hierdie masjien met 'n kernlose stator 'n goeie kandidaat is vir hoë spoed generator toepassings, selfs in die boonste medium drywingsgebied. Die goeie verkoelingskapasiteit van hierdie tipe masjien hou die belofte in van'n selfverkoelde generator by hoë drywing aanslae.