Modeling and control of a synchronous generator with an active DC load

The design and analysis of a system consisting of a variable-speed synchronous generator that supplies an active DC load (inverter) through a three-phase diode rectifier requires adequate modeling in both time- and frequency-domains. As an example, the system's control-loops are difficult to design without an accurate small-signal model; at the same time, the system protection design requires large-signal transient modeling. A particularity of the described system is strong nonideal operation of the diode rectifier, a consequence of the large value of the generator's synchronous impedance. This nonideal behavior influences both steady-state and transient performance. This paper presents an average model of the system that accounts, in a detailed manner for the dynamics of the power source and the load, and for the effects of the nonideal operation of the diode rectifier. The model is nonlinear, but time-continuous, and can be used for large- and small-signal analysis. The developed model was verified on a 105 kW generator-set with inverter output, whose DC-link voltage control-loop design was successfully carried out based on the average model. It is shown that a high bandwidth is needed for this control-loop in order to achieve the proper impedance matching between the power source and the active electronic load.