A research team that designed and constructed an electrical starter-generator intended for the power unit of a hybrid car has now enhanced the design, enabling it to be applied to small- and large-scale wind turbines.
In the new, high-efficiency construction, the windings consist of irregular cross-section conductors, which vary sequentially. The design reduces the mass and dimensions of the generator, as well as reduces the loss of electromechanical conversion, noted researchers at the Department of Theoretical and Basic Electrical Engineering, Samara Polytech Pavel Grachev, Russia.
Aside from the unique generator winding feature, the new generator includes the implementation of control algorithms and electronic units for robust operation in a wide range of wind-wheel speed.
The researchers note their calculations have shown that compact winding construction results reduced the size and improved efficiency of the proposed induction generator. In addition, reduced end-windings of the generator make way for the placement of power electronic units on the stator core inside the machine housing.
The new design has already been patented as a key part of an electric machine with integrated electronic units and liquid cooling, noted the authors.
Results of the research were published in IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications (DOI: 10.1109/TIA.2020.2964231).