Development and analysis of a multi-phase brushless doubly-fed induction generator for wind generation system

This paper presents the development, modeling, and experimental evaluation of a multi-phase brushless doubly-fed induction generator designed (BDFIG) for wind power plants. Based upon previous research, a novel multi-phase BDFIG prototype was manufactured and its steady-state performance analyzed. Multi-phase systems like the proposed five-phase configuration offer enhanced fault tolerance, improved reliability, and operational flexibility, making them viable alternatives to conventional three-phase systems in the rapidly growing wind energy sector. This configuration were investigated through both simulation in Ansys Maxwell and laboratory testing. The results demonstrated the advantages of the five-phase control winding, including additional control degrees of freedom and reduced harmonic distortion. Laboratory experiments confirmed the robust behavior of the prototype under different load conditions. The machine’s capacity to adjust to step load changes without a dedicated control algorithm while maintaining stability underscores its potential for cost-effective and sustainable wind power generation. This work advances the understanding of multi-phase BDFIGs, providing a foundation for further exploration and optimization of multi-phase power generation systems.