A Consequent-Pole Hybrid Exciter for Synchronous Generators

Nuzzo, Stefano; Bolognesi, Paolo; Decuzzi, Giovanni; Giangrande, Paolo; Galea, Michael

Abstract

In low-to-medium power generating sets, a self-powered brushless excitation system is typically employed. This solution is cost-effective, simple and compact, but it suffers from an unreliable voltage build-up at start-up, a slow dynamic response and a relatively low efficiency for the exciter. The push towards more effective, reliable and efficient products has recently led to consider excitation systems equipped with permanent magnet exciters and controlled rotating converters, but their diffusion is limited by their higher complexity and cost. This article investigates the utilization of a hybrid excitation for the exciter, aiming to join the benefits of field windings and permanent magnets. As a case study, this concept is applied to a commercial mid-size generating set adopting an industrial perspective, aiming to maximize the benefits while minimizing the required modifications in the system design. After a preliminary analysis, a consequent-pole layout with surface-mounted bonded magnets is then selected as the most effective solution. Theoretical considerations, numerical analysis and experimental validation are reported to show that the hybrid excitation concept can actually lead to a significant reduction of the exciter field losses as well as to other appreciable side benefits with a very limited impact on the present design of the generating set.

Citation

Nuzzo, S., Bolognesi, P., Decuzzi, G., Giangrande, P., & Galea, M. (2021). A Consequent-Pole Hybrid Exciter for Synchronous Generators. IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion, 36(1), 368-379. https://doi.org/10.1109/tec.2020.3012198

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 21, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Jul 28, 2020
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2021
• Deposit Date: Jan 13, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 13, 2021
• Journal: IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion
• Print ISSN: 0885-8969
• Electronic ISSN: 1558-0059
• Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 36
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 368-379
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/tec.2020.3012198
• Keywords: Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Energy Engineering and Power Technology
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5225007
• Publisher URL: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9151376
• Additional Information: © 2020 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.