Efficient voltage regulation scheme for three-phase self-excited induction generator feeding single-phase load in remote locations

Abstract

This study presents analysis, design and implementation of a microcontroller based electronic load controller (ELC) for efficient voltage regulation of a three-phase self-excited induction generator (SEIG) feeding single-phase loads in remote locations. The proposed ELC has an uncontrolled rectifier, a filtering capacitor, an insulated gate bipolar transistor switch and a series dump load. The pulse-width modulation (PWM) pulses with appropriate duty cycle are generated using the dsPIC30F6010 microcontroller. The duty ratio is determined based on the closed-loop control scheme which decides the amount of power diverted to the dump load. The proposed SEIG-ELC system demonstrates an effective power switching between the main load and the dump load thereby providing an efficient voltage regulation at the machine terminals. The controller is modelled in Matlab/Simulink and the simulated results are validated by experimental results. © The Institution of Engineering and Technology 2014.