Cascaded doubly fed induction generator using PFC rectifiers

Variable speed cascaded doubly fed induction generators (CDFIG) have been recently proposed to apply in renewable energy generation systems i.e. small hydropower plants, windmills, shaft generators of vessels and embedded applications. CDFIG requires lower maintenance than DFIG due the absence of slip rings and brushes. It can operate with secondary side converter with fractional ratings of the total power. The use of power factor corrector (PFC) rectifiers to handle the CDFIG slip power is investigated in the paper. The three-phase Minnesota rectifier and a three-phase/switch/level PWM rectifier called Vienna rectifier are considered. Simulations using PSIM simulation software are presented.