Assessment of excitation capacitance for a multiphase isolated self-excited induction generator for power generation

Self-excited induction generators are used in remote places for electrical power generation from both conventional as well as non-conventional sources. An induction generator can operate as a capacitor-excited machine, provided the machine is driven beyond synchronous speed and a suitable capacitor is connected across its terminals. In this paper, a technique has been proposed to estimate the values of excitation capacitances to maintain desired terminal voltages in a multiphase induction generator. A mathematical model using nodal admittance technique of a six-phase induction generator has been analysed. Genetic algorithm technique is applied here to obtain the unknown parameters and the capacitance requirements to obtain desired terminal voltages under various operating conditions.