Regenerative test for multiple three-phase machines with even number of neutral points

Testing the high-power machines in general is not an easy task. One of the standard tests is the full-load test. This test typically requires another machine, of the same or higher power rating, to be coupled to the tested one. For multiphase machines, which are commonly designed for high power applications, this test can be conducted in a different way. In order to simplify full-load test, this paper introduces a new method which is applicable for multiple three-phase machines with even number of neutral points. The method is based on indirect rotor-field oriented control (IRFOC). It enables evaluation of the efficiency and the thermal design in the case of synchronous machines and the segregation of the constant and stator variable losses for induction machines, without the need for coupling another machine as a load. In the presented method the full-load test conditions on the stator are obtained by circulating the rated active power flow in closed loop from one winding set to another. The only power used during the test is to cover machine and converter losses. The proposed control scheme is unique and it is based around y component from the vector space decomposition (VSD) subspace. It is validated through the simulation and experimental results.