Slot-PM-Assisted Hybrid Reluctance Generator With Self-Excited DC Source for Stand-Alone Wind Power Generation

This article proposed a new slot-permanent-magnet (PM)-assisted hybrid reluctance generator (SPMa-HRG) with self-excited dc source for stand-alone wind power generation system. By introducing PM excitation in stator slot openings, enhanced torque density due to flux modulation effect can be achieved compared with the original reluctance topology. Moreover, the introduced PMs make it feasible to build a self-excited dc source to fed dc field winding without using extra power supply. In particular, a simple design of ac supply winding is proposed, by splitting a small portion of ac armature winding to provide electrical power to dc field winding through a diode rectifier and small-capacity H-bridge converter. Compared with using separate dc source, the device cost is reduced, and the system reliability is improved. In this article, the generator structure and operation principle are introduced. PM usage is optimized to obtain the optimal torque. The feasibility of the optimal design with self-excited dc source is verified by field-circuit coupled finite element analysis.