A novel induction generator system using bi‐directional PWM converter for small‐scale power applications

This paper presents a deadbeat current control structure for a bidirectional power flow pulse‐width modulation (PWM) converter connected to a stand‐alone induction generator (IG), which works with variable speed and different types of loads. Sensorless control of the IG, meaning stator voltage vector control without a mechanical shaft sensor, is considered to regulate both the IG line‐to‐line voltage and the DC‐bus voltage of the PWM converter. In the proposed system, a newly designed phase locked loop (PLL) circuit is used to determine the stator voltage vector position of the IG. A 2.2 kW laboratory prototype has been built to confirm the feasibility of the proposed method. The proposed cost‐effective IG system with a deadbeat current‐controlled PWM converter and capacitor bank requires only three sensors. Moreover, the required rating of the PWM converter becomes smaller due to the existence of the capacitor bank. © 2006 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.