Analysis and control of photovoltaic‐assisted three‐phase induction machine operating as single‐phase micro‐wind generator.

An improved control methodology for off‐grid, three‐phase induction machine working as a single‐phase generator is presented in this study. A three‐phase machine made to work as a single‐phase generator has advantages of lower size and cost than their single‐phase equivalent in almost all ratings except in the lower fractional kilowatt (kW) ranges. The three‐phase windings are configured as isolated two equivalent phases in the proposed system for this purpose. The machine uses photovoltaic (PV)‐assisted single‐phase inverter to one of its two phases for variable excitation requirement to cater dynamic loads at different rotor speeds besides having a fixed capacitor to provide bulk excitation. A storage battery is used along with the PV panels to improve the reliability of the scheme during low or no insolation periods. A stator‐flux‐oriented control is implemented for regulating the terminal voltage within specified limit at a fixed frequency. The control strategy ensures fixed load voltage and fixed frequency even with perturbations of load or rotor speed. Different simulation results, verified by suitable experiments using a 1 kW, 415 V laboratory prototype, confirm the suitability of the proposed concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]