Performance evaluation of a novel bifurcated winding induction generator by finite element model

Induction machines are popular in the industry due to its reliability, ruggedness, simplicity and cost. Cage rotor induction generators are being replaced by doubly-fed induction generator configurations. However, in this paper an attempt is made to highlight the specific features of a cage rotor bifurcated winding induction generator configuration found suitable for variable speed applications especially in the area of wind energy systems. The study based on finite element models (FEM) offers more information on the phenomena characterizing the operation of electrical machines than the classical analytical models and is convenient to develop especially if the machine is asymmetrical in its winding configuration. A model of the machine is developed using Ansys and its performance under various conditions successfully compared with the experimental results obtained on the actual machine.