Owing to increased emphasis on renewable resources, the development of suitable isolated power generators driven by energy sources such as photovoltaic, wind, small hydro-electric, biogas and etc. has recently assumed greater significance. A single phase capacitor self-excited induction generator (SEIG) has emerged as a suitable candidate of isolated power sources. This paper presents performance analysis of a single phase self-excited induction generator driven by photovoltaic (PV) system for low power isolated stand-alone applications. A single phase induction machine can work as a self-excited induction generator when its rotor is driven at suitable speed by an photovoltaic powered dc motor. Its excitation is provided by connecting a single phase capacitor bank at a stator terminals. Either to augment grid power or to get uninterrupted power during grid failure stand-alone low capacity ac generators are used. These are driven by photovoltaic, wind power or IC engines using kerosene, diesel, petrol or biogas as fuel. Self-excitation with capacitors at the stator terminals of the induction machines is well demonstrated experimentally on a PV powered dc motor-induction machine set. The parameters and the excitation requirements of the induction machine run in self-excited induction generator mode are determined. The effects of variations in prime mover speed, terminal capacitance and load power factor on the machine terminal voltage are studied.

كلمات كليدي:

Photovoltaic generators, portable induction generators and integrated renewable energy systems.