Power factor correction of an electrical drive system based on multiphase machines

This paper deals with the energy efficiency improvement of an electrical drive which can be used both in wind energy conversion or motor drive applications. A power factor (PF) control scheme is presented allowing energy efficiency enhancement and optimization in high power variable-speed drives based on multiphase machines. Thus, the double-star induction machine is taken, as an example of multiphase machines, to introduce the principle of the study presented in this paper. In fact, the purpose of this paper is to maintain the PF of the power-winding, of the double star induction machine, in vicinity of unity whatever the drive operating point. Also, this control scheme can be generalized for several kinds of multiphase machines.