AVR for a synchronous generator with a six-phase PM alternator and rotating excitation system

Abstract: Automatic voltage regulation is necessary for all power producing synchronous generators to ensure that the produced power have a constant and stable voltage level and to sustain grid stability. The aim of this thesis is to design and build an automatic voltage regulator for a synchronous generator. A six-phase permanent magnet alternator will be used to excite the rotor with solid-state relay controlled rotating bridge rectifier. The field current is regulated by a closed loop control system that is based on a programmable logic controller, PLC. Programing of the PLC is executed in the developing environment CoDeSys, IEC 61131-3, which is the international standard for programing PLC applications. Simulations for predicting the system behavior is done with a web based in-browser tool, circuitlab.com. The results show a good performance of the regulator and the closed loop system although there is room for improvement of the solid-state controlled rectifier system.