Comparison of Different Axial-Flux Induction Generator Topologies in Variable Speed Wind Turbine Applications

Wind energy has inevitably become widespread due to the increasing world population, sustainability problems, and the green energy standards that are increasingly coming to the forefront. Axial-flux induction generators (AFIG) are one of the significant generator topologies that can meet the expectations from wind energy systems. It is possible to derive various AFIG topologies by using different stator and rotor combinations. Each topology gains significance according to the requirements of the application. In this paper, 8 kW, 400V/50 Hz single stator-single rotor (SSSR) and double stator-single rotor (DSSR) topologies have been examined, and both analytical and finite element analysis results have been compared through the equivalent circuit design approach for these topologies. It has been demonstrated, both by finite element analyses and the outputs of the developed algorithm, that the DSSR-AFIG architecture outperforms the SSSR-AFIG in terms of both power density and efficiency.