Effectiveness of Active Stage Variation in an Axial Flux Permanent Magnet Generator for Small Wind Turbine Applications
Open Access
Author:
Folmar, Eric
Area of Honors:
Mechanical Engineering
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Susan W Stewart, Thesis Supervisor Daniel Humberto Cortes Correales, Thesis Honors Advisor Herschel C Pangborn, Faculty Reader
Keywords:
Wing Energy Generator AFPMG Wind Turbine
Abstract:
Small wind turbines are often implemented in regions with sub-optimal wind conditions, and must be highly adaptable to varying wind speeds. While many technologies currently exist for Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT), actively varying the number of stages that are connected to the electrical load on an Axial Flux Permanent Magnet Generator has never before been attempted. Experimentation was conducted on a dynamometer test stand to investigate the effects of such a technique. It was found that Active Stage Variation enables control over the slope of the generator’s power-RPM curve, which suggest that this technology has the potential to aid in MPPT and increase generator efficiency, especially at low wind speeds.
