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Background
The power system is experiencing an increasing share of electric power production that comes
from intermittent power sources like wind and solar energy. Increased pressure is put on
controllable power sources like hydropower to deal with fluctuations in the output of electric
power.
Generators used in hydropower plants today are not designed and optimized for frequent
changes in active power production. When traditional hydropower generators are used, the
nominal rotational speed is set by the grid frequency and the number of poles in the machine.
The main purpose of this work is to develop synchronous generator designs where the speed
of rotation and electrical frequency is allowed to vary within given intervals. The work will
also look at possibilities for reducing the moment of inertia in the machine.
This work will be a theoretical study. Focus will be on using modern numerical software for
design and optimization of synchronous machines.
PhD Thesis
Department of Electrical
Engineering
Design of Variable Speed
Generators for Hydropower
Applications
By Erlend L. Engevik
Supervisor: Arne Nysveen