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Background
Simulation in COMSOL: Machine segment including one
PM covering two half poles.
Principle of pumped storage hydro power plant
A reservoir of water with potential energy may
be the most efficient way of energy storage
in large quantities with today’s technology.
Pumped storage hydropower plants can be
used when integrating large volumes of
renewable energy as solar- and wind power
in the power system. The amount of power
delivered from these plants is strongly
dependent of the season as well as the
weather of the day. Pumped storage plants
can provide assistance to obtain a balanced
and stable power system. This can also be
combined with small-scale hydropower, and
the scope of this thesis is 15 – 20 MW in range
of power. Traditionally ordinary synchronous
machines are used in hydropower plants, with its field windings for exciting the rotor.
In this thesis the idea is to use a permanent
magnet synchronous machine instead. This
may be a suitable solution for a machine in
this power range, and can give advantages
considering simplicity of the machine in
addition to utilization of space.
A simplified design is proposed and analysed
using COMSOL. The air gap flux obtained is
in the range of what required, but analysis
using a more complex model is needed. The
use and modification of a Matlab-tool may be necessary to easier find solutions for different
designs.
Master Thesis
Department of Electrical
Engineering
PM Synchronous Machine for
Pumped Storage Plant
By Svein Kristian Wedum
Supervisor: Arne Nysveen