THREE-PHASE POWER FACTOR CORRECTION RECTIFIER APPLIED TO

WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEMS

Carlos E. A. Silva, Ren T. Bascop, Demercil S. Oliveira Jr
Federal University of Cear UFC
Department of Electrical Engineering DEE
Group of Energy Processing and Control GPEC
Fortaleza CE Brasil
elmano@dee.ufc.br, demercil@dee.ufc.br, rene@dee.ufc.br


Abstract This paper proposes a topology of three-phase
controlled rectifier feasible for small wind energy conversion
systems. This rectifier uses six wires of the generator and
allows for the operation with high power factor, increasing
the generator efficiency. One Cycle Control (OCC) was used
in the rectifier control. This study is concerned with the
operating principle, a design example, and some simulation
and experimental results for a 5kW prototype.

Keywords three-phase PWM rectifiers, one cycle
control, power factor correction and wind energy systems.
I. INTRODUCTION
According to the U. S. Department of Energy, through of
International Energy Outlook 2006 (IEO) report of Energy
Information Administration (EIA), the global consumption of
energy will grow at an annual average of 2% between the
years of 2003 and 2030. The forecast for the growth of
demand for energy specifically in the electric form is even
greater i.e. 2.7% to the year [1].
Either for ambient, strategic, or geographic questions, the
generation of electric energy from wind systems has grown
quickly, changing from a global installed power of 4.8 GW
in 1995 to 58 GW in 2005, at an annual average growth of
24% [2]. Considering the current estimations of increase in
the demand for electric energy generation in the next few
years, one concludes that the growth of the electric energy
obtained from wind systems tends to continue.
This worldwide context is challenging for all professionals
involved in generation, distribution, and processing of
electric energy. In energy processing the power electronic
specialists and researchers are fundamental, constantly
seeking the increase of the processed power with greater
efficiency and reduced weight and volume.
This paper intends to contribute with this research
considering a three-phase controlled rectifier with active
power factor correction employing One Cycle Control
(OCC), what allows obtaining high power factor with
increased simplicity of the circuit control when compared to
conventional techniques. This rectifier is applicable to wind
energy conversion systems (WECS).
II. WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYTEMS
Any wind energy conversion system (WECS) is composed
basically of three parts: wind turbine, electrical power
generator, and electronic power system. The wind turbine
and the electrical power generator compose the wind
generator.
The most used electric power generators in wind energy
systems are the doubly-fed induction generators (DFIG) and
the permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG). Since
PMSGs do not require external excitation current and it
presents high efficiency and small size when compared with
DFIGs, they have been widely used in smack WECS rated
at some kilowatts [3]-[4].
The focus of this work is small WECS based in PMSGs.
To follow the mathematical model of PMSG and the main
topologies of power processing they are presented already
proposed for systems based on that generator.
A. Wind Turbine Model
The wind turbine basic principle is to convert the linear
motion of the wind into rotational energy. This rotational
energy is used to drive an electrical generator, allowing the
kinetic energy of the wind to be turned into electric power.
The captured power of the wind (P
v
) for a wind turbine is
given by Eq. (1).

1
3
2
P A u
v a v
= (1)
Where
a
is the wind density, u is the wind speed, and
A
v
is the area swept by the turbine. The mechanical power
(P
m
) generated by the wind turbine from captured power of
the wind depends of the power coefficient (C
p
) of the wind
turbine, as it shows the Eq. (2).
( )
m v p
P P C = (2)
In Eq. (2) the C
p
is a function of tip-speed ratio , given
by Eq. (3).

m
r
u

= (3)
Where r is the length of the wind turbine spade and
m

is the angular rotor speed. The variation of the C
p
with
depends on the aerodynamic characteristics of the wind
turbine. The Cp equation is the equation is provided by the
turbine manufacturer. In the quality of illustration, a typical
curve of C
p
vs. is shown in Fig. 1.
In Fig. 1 can be observed that there is an optimum value
of for which the conversion of the captured wind power in
mechanical power is maximum.
978-1-4244-1874-9/08/$25.00 2008 IEEE 768

Fig. 1 Typical curve of Cp vs. .
B. PMSG Mathematical Model
Using the torque definition, the mechanical torque (T
m
)
applied to PMSG is given by Eq. (4).

m
m
m
P
T

= (4)
Replacing the Eqs. (1), (2) e (3) in the Eq. (4), the
mechanical torque can be expressed according to the Eq. (5).

( ) 1
2
2
p
m
C
T r A u
a v

= (5)
Using the torque definition again, the eletromagnetical
torque (T
e
) of the PMSG is given by Eq. (6).

E I E I E I
a a b b c c
T
e
m

+ +
= (6)
Where E
a,b,c
are the induced instantaneous voltages in the
PMSG windings and I
a,b,c
are the induced instantaneous
currents in PMSG windings. Disdaining the friction, the
variation of the angular mechanical speed of the rotor with
the time is given by Eq. (7).
( )
1
m
m e
T T
J

= (7)
C. Power Processing Topologies Applied to PMSG
Fig. 2 show the block diagram of a WECS that can be
used so much in the charging battery building as in the input
stage of current inverters for grid connected systems [5]-[11].
It consists in a standard rectifier only. The main advantages
of this systems are simplicity and low cost.
However, systems like those represented by Fig. 2
develop high harmonic distortion in the current and voltage
of PMSGs, which are troublesome because they can cause
several upset to the generator, such as [12]:
Increased heating due to iron and copper losses at the
harmonic frequencies;
Reduction in machine efficiency;
Loss to the torque production;
Increased in audible noise emission;
Can cause or enhance the refusal to start smoothly in
induction generators;
Can cause mechanical oscillations;

Fig. 2 WECS without power factor correction in PMSG side.
In order to overcome these problems, systems capable of
emulating resistive loads for the PMSG must be used by
replacing conventional diode rectifiers, allowing the
operation with high power factor. These systems can be
implemented basically in two ways: introducing a dc-dc
stage between the conventional rectifier and the output
stages(Fig. 3) [13] or using PWM rectifiers with appropriate
modulation (Fig. 4) [14]-[17].

Fig. 3 WECS with power factor correction in PMSG side
using DC-DC stage.

Fig. 4 WECS with power factor correction in PMSG side
using PWM rectifier.
III. PROPOSED RECTIFIER
The proposed topology is a novel three-phase PWM
rectifier, based on the single-phase rectifier introduced in
[18]-[19], and is recommended for applications where six
wires are accessible. The proposed rectifier is composed by
three single-phase rectifiers, as shown in Fig. 5, each one
connected to one phase of the PMSG. This rectifier is fully
controlled, being able to provide unity power factor and low
harmonic content of the generator currents.
769

Fig. 5 Schematic diagram of the proposed rectifier.

In Fig. 5 E
a,b,c
are the induced magneto-driving force in
each winding of the PMSG stator, the inductors L
a,b,c

represent the inductances of each winding of the PMSG
stator and are coupled to each other, L
1,2,3
are boost
inductors. The main advantages of the proposed rectifier,
when compared to standard three-phase PWM rectifiers are:
All switches are connected to the same reference,
simplifying the command circuit;
Depending of the operation mode, both switches of each
leg receive the same command signal;
There is not switches in series, discarding the possibility
of the short-circuit;
For each leg there are only two semiconductors in the
current path, increasing robustness with reduced losses;

The principal disadvantage of the proposed rectifier is the
high number of semiconductors, witch is justified in high
power applications.
A. Operation Principle of the Rectifier
To each phase of the generator there is a rectifier module
associated that operates in an independent way and similar to
a boost converter. The stages of operation of each rectifier
module are illustrated in the Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 Operation stages of each rectifier module.
At the moment when switches S
1
and S
2
are turned on, the
current flows through them and the boost inductor L
1
stores
energy, while diodes D
1
and D
2
are reverse biased. When S
1

and S
2
are turned off, diodes D
1
and D
2
are forward biased,
and the current will flow through them, as the energy stored
in the inductor will be transferred to the output stage.
There are only two power semiconductors in the current
path during all operating stages, reducing conduction losses.
Depending on the modulation technique, two operating
modes are available:
1) First Operation Mode
Only one switch operates during a given half cycle of the
line voltage, as the operation of a single boost converter
results. Thus, switch S1 is turned/off while S2 always
remains turned on during the positive half cycle, and vice-
versa during the negative half cycle. The semiconductor that
remains turned on during half line cycle will conduct the
current through itself, and not through the antiparallel diode,
reducing conduction losses. On the other hand, this operating
mode increases the complexity in generating the drive signals
[18].
2) Second Operation Mode
Both semiconductors are driven with same gating signal.
Thus, in the positive half line, when S2 is turned on, the
current will flow in the reverse direction through itself and,
when S2 is turned off the current will flow in the reverse
direction through the antiparallel diode. In the negative half
cycle of the line voltage where S1 is turned on, the current
will flow in the reverse direction through the switch itself,
and when S1 is turned off, the current will flow in the reverse
direction through the antiparallel diode. The second
operating mode simplifies the drive signal generation, but
will lead to a little bit larger conduction losses those in the
first one[18].
B. Rectifier Control
The rectifier control schematic diagram is shown in Fig. 7.
The control technique used in the rectifier is the One Cycle
Control [20]-[26]. This is the only control technique that
allows getting high power factor in continuous conduction
mode without the necessity of a reference signal for the
current. This technique consists of two control loops, a
voltage loop and a current loop.

Fig. 7 Block diagram of the rectifier control.
770
In PFC OCC control technique the duty cycle of switch
command pulse depends on the input voltage value, allowing
that the current loop keeps the sine wave shape of input
current analogous to input voltage in phase and form. The
voltage loop controls the boost output voltage through of
controller output signal, which changes the average input
current by mean of slope ramp integrator.
IV. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
The proposed rectifier prototype was built and is being
tested. Table I relates specifications and parameters used to
implement the prototype.

TABLE I
Rectifier specifications and parameters.
Rms input voltage range 110 V 220 V
Frequency of the input voltage 60 Hz
Output voltage 320V-400V
Switching frequency 50 kHz
Input inductors (L
1,2,3
) 600 H
Output capacitance 2400H
Output power 5 kVA

Fig. 8 shows prototype picture.

Fig. 8 Prototype picture.
Fig. 9 shows the voltage and current waveforms of phase
a for input voltage of 150Vrms and output power of 3.66kW,
as the power factor is 0.997.

Fig. 9 Voltage (1) and current (2) of phase a for Vin=150Vrms
(100V/Div - 10A/Div - 5ms).
Fig. 10 presents the line current waveforms in phases a, b,
and c for input voltage of 150V and output power of 3.66kW.

Fig. 10 Current waveforms in phases a (1), b (2), and c (3) for
input voltage of 150Vrms (10A/Div 5ms).
Fig. 11 shows the harmonic spectrum of the input current
in phase a for rms input voltage of 150V and output power
of 3.66kW. The total harmonic distortion is about 4.5%.

Fig. 11 Harmonic spectrum of the input current (Vin=150V
and Pout=3.66kW).
Fig. 12 shows the voltage and current waveforms of phase
a for input voltage of 220Vrms and output power of 5kW, as
the power factor is 0.992.

Fig. 12 - Voltage (1) and current (2) of phase a for
Vin=220Vrms (100V/Div - 10A/Div - 5ms).
771
Fig. 13 presents the line current waveforms in phases a, b,
and c for input voltage of 220Vrms and output power of
5kW.

Fig. 13 Current waveforms in phases a (1), b (2), and c (3) for
input voltage of 220Vrms (10A/Div 5ms).
Fig. 14 shows the harmonic spectrum of the input current
in phase a for rms input voltage of 220V and output power
of 5kW. The total harmonic distortion is about 5%.

Fig. 14 Harmonic spectrum of the input current (Vin=220V
and Pout=5kW).
Fig. 15 presents the efficiency curve for rms input voltage
of 220V , as the average efficiency is about 97% along the
load range.
94.00%
95.00%
96.00%
97.00%
98.00%
99.00%
100.00%
1.0 1.8 2.6 3.4 4.2 5.0
Out put power (kW)
E
f
f
i
c
i
e
n
c
y

(
%
)

Fig. 15 Efficiency versus output power curve.
V. CONCLUSION
A novel three-phase PWM rectifier is presented. The main
advantages, when compared to a conventional three-phase
controlled rectifier, are the use of switches with the source
connected to the same point, robustness due to the absence of
controlled switches in the same leg, and reduction of
switching losses.
Moreover, the control implementation through OCC
allowed a great simplification of the control circuit. With this
control technique the current drained follows inherently the
input voltage wave form, dispense the synchronism use. This
characteristic is very important for the applications with wind
energy, therefore the wind generator does not supply a clean
wave form voltage.
The experimental results prove the effectiveness of the
considered system, which present the referring results to the
a power processing of the 5kW, with average efficiency of
97% and power factor bigger that 0.99.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors would like to thank FUNCAP for the
financial support and incentive the scientific research,
ENERSUD for the donation of a wind generator, FINEP and
ELETROBRAS for the financial incentive.
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