Switched reluctance generators for wind energy applications

The switched reluctance machine has very good characteristics in term of efficiency, control simplicity and robustness. The rotor is made of solid iron with no electrical excitation and this results in considerable robustness and reliability. The machine is cost competitive with the cage induction motor, has superior efficiency to it and its power converter is cheaper and fundamentally more reliable. Even with these advantages, its use as a generator has not been properly investigated. This paper describes the use of a 7.5 kW switched reluctance machine working as a generator and discusses the control systems and the application of this sort of generator connected in a variable speed wind turbine system.<
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