A methodology to remove stator skew in small-medium size synchronous generators via innovative damper cage designs

Nuzzo, Stefano; Bolognesi, Paolo; Vakil, Gaurang; Fallows, Daniel; Gerada, Chris; Brown, Neil L.; Galea, Michael

Abstract

This paper proposes and investigates an innovative methodology that can have a significant impact on the market potential of wound field, small-medium size synchronous generators. The technique proposed here is aimed at removing the need for the traditional stator skewing that is so commonly used in synchronous generators to achieve acceptable values of voltage total harmonic distortion. To do this, a non-standard damper cage configuration is proposed that comprises modulation of the damper bars’ positioning. An off-the-shelf, 400kVA generator is used as a benchmark machine. Its rotor is optimized and modified according to the proposed technique. The results of the final machine are then compared to the benchmark machine highlighting the excellent advantages that can be achieved through this technique. A full-scale prototype of the modified generator is then built to experimentally validate the concept. Finally, a detailed analysis on all the performance aspects of the prototype is done, to guarantee that the proposed technique has no negative impact whatsoever on the generator’s performance.

Citation

Nuzzo, S., Bolognesi, P., Vakil, G., Fallows, D., Gerada, C., Brown, N. L., & Galea, M. (2019). A methodology to remove stator skew in small-medium size synchronous generators via innovative damper cage designs. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 66(6), 4926-4307. https://doi.org/10.1109/tie.2018.2864699

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 27, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Aug 15, 2018
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2019
• Deposit Date: Oct 1, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 2, 2018
• Journal: IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics
• Print ISSN: 0278-0046
• Electronic ISSN: 1557-9948
• Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 66
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 4926-4307
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/tie.2018.2864699
• Keywords: Control and Systems Engineering; Electrical and Electronic Engineering
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1141486
• Publisher URL: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8437241
• Contract Date: Oct 1, 2018