Machine Transformations

J. McCalley

Space vectors
Consider a 2-pole induction machine with the a-phase stator winding, having Na turns,
is distributed about its axis as shown below.

The conductor density of the phase

a winding is

na

Na
sin
2

where a negative density is

interpreted as the return path
of the turns.
2

Space vectors
If the coil carries a current ia, then the magneto-motive force (MMF, the magnetic circuit
analogue to voltage in an electric circuit) is given by an application of Amperes circuital
law, which relates the intensity of a magnetic field to the current that produces it.

F H dl J dA
A

Apply to the closed path shown in the

figure:

Fa

na ia d

N a ia

sin d

2
N a ia cos
3

Space vectors
Symmetry allows us to associate half of this path mmf with each side of the machine.
Thus, the mmf per airgap is

N s ia
Fa
cos
2
Because this and other variables are distributed around the air-gap periphery, it is
convenient to represent them by space vectors. A space vector is represented by a
complex number having
a magnitude equal to the peak amplitude of the variable and
an angle equal to the angular position of this positive peak value.
Each space vector is considered to have a cosinusoidal distribution around the
machine periphery.
The MMF space vector is denoted

Fa

We may also denote the current as a space vector:

Na
Thus, F a
ia
2

ia
4

Space vectors
Symmetry allows us to associate half of this path mmf with each side of the machine.
Thus, the mmf per airgap is

N s ia
Fa
cos
2
Because this and other variables are distributed around the air-gap periphery, it is
convenient to represent them by space vectors. A space vector is represented by a
complex number having
a magnitude equal to the peak amplitude of the variable and
an angle equal to the angular position of this positive peak value.
Each space vector is considered to have a cosinusoidal distribution around the
machine periphery.
The MMF space vector is denoted

Fa

We may also denote the current as a space vector:

Na
Thus, F a
ia
2

ia
5

Space vectors
The two space vectors corresponding to F and i are illustrated below.

Space vectors
We may go through the same procedure for the phase currents b and c, in which
case we represent them with space vectors

ib

ic

Define a positive rotation of 2/3 as: a e

Then a positive rotation of 4/3 is: a

j ( 2 / 3 )

e j ( 4 / 3 )

1
3
j
2
2
1
3
j
2
2

Because the b and c phase windings are spatially displaced from the a phase winding
by 120 and 240 degrees, respectively, then:

i b aib
i c a 2ic

The total effect of a set of instantaneous currents in all three phase windings is then
found by vector addition according to:

i i a ib ic
This is not the same as the sum of the currents: ia+ib+ic, which is zero!

Space vectors
Time-domain waveforms

Space vectors and their summation for

the instant indicated on the other plot

Observe: at the instant, ia is positive and

just after its peak, ib and ic are negative.

i i a i b i c ia aib a 2ic
8

Space vectors
Lets add them mathematically:

i i a i b i c ia aib a 2ic
Now use:

a e j ( 2 / 3 )

1
3
j
2
2

And we obtain:

j ( 4 / 3 )

1
3
j
2
2

1
3
1
3

ic
i ia j
ib j

2
2
2
2

ia

1
ib ic j 3 ib ic
2
2

But ia+ib+ic=0ia=-(ib+ic). Making this substitution in the above results in:

i ia

1
3
ib ic 3 ia j 3 ib ic
ia j
2
2
2
2

Space vectors
i

3
3
ib ic
ia j
2
2

It will be convenient for us later on to scale this vector by 2/3 resulting in :

2 3
3
3

ib ic
i

j
i

a
b
c
a
3 2
2
3

1
ib ic
ia j
3

is

The above relation concentrates the effects of the three phase currents into a
single complex variable. Very nice!
Now, lets consider the converse process.

10

Space vectors
The converse process.
Consider that we know the space vector i s and that we want to find the
instantaneous values of the individual phase currents. How to do this?
We will project the vector i s onto the respective a, b, and c axes, as shown below.
The analytic equivalent of this projection is:

Just take the real part of i s

ia Re i s

Rotate the is vector forward by

240. This places +b-axis
where the +a-axis was. Then
take real part.

ib Re a 2 i s

Rotate the is vector forward by

120. This places +c-axis
where the +a-axis was. Then
take real part.

ic Re ai s

11

Space vectors
We have represented the phase currents as space vectors. In doing so, however,
the only thing required was they were balanced three-phase quantities. Any other
variables can be similarly represented as long as they are balanced three-phase
quantities, e.g., currents, voltages, and fluxes.
Lets generically refer to any such variables as xa, xb, and xc and the corresponding
space vector as x s

12

- transformation
The space vector x s can also be represented by two phase magnitudes, called x
and x in the real-imaginary complex plane, as illustrated below.

We can express this relationship mathematically according to:

x s x jx

xa axb a 2 xc
3

The - components of the space vector can be calculated from the abc
magnitudes according to:

2
1
1
x Re x s xa xb xc
3
2
2

13

Real part
of axb

Real part
of a2xc

x Im x s
Im part
of axb

2 3
3
x

xc

b
3 2
2
Im part
of a2xc

- transformation

2
1
1
x Re x s xa xb xc
3
2
2

2 3
3
x Im x s
xb
xc
3 2
2

These two relations can be represented in matrix form as follows:

1
1

x
2
2
x
3
3

0

1
2

xa
x
b
xc

We define the matrix as the T-matrix:

1
1

2
2
T
3
3
0

2
This transformation is also called the
Clarke transformation for the person
who developed it, Edith Clarke.

14

1
2

February 10, 1883 - October 29, 1959

AT&T, MIT, GE, U-Texas

- transformation

2
1
1
x Re x s xa xb xc
3
2
2

2 3
3
x Im x s
xb
xc
3 2
2

We will often represent the Clarke transformation in one of the two equivalent ways:

15

- transformation

2 3
3
x Im x s
xb
xc
3 2
2

2
1
1
x Re x s xa xb xc
3
2
2

It is interesting to observe, in a balanced system, so that xa+xb+xc=0,

2
1

x Re x s xa xb xc
3
2

2
1
2 3
xa x a xa x a
3
2
3 2
We can solve for xb and xc in terms of x and x, in which case we obtain the inverse
Clarke transformation as

xa 1
x 1
b 2
xc 1

2
16

0
3

2
3

x
x

- transformation

xa 1
x 1
b 2
xc 1

2

0
3

2
3

x
x

We often represent the inverse Clark transformation in two equivalent ways:

17

Other transformations
When we transform variables to the - transformation we have just established, we
are said to be working in the Stator Reference Frame.
This reference frame is aligned with the stator, and the rotational speed of this
reference frame, since it is aligned with the stator, is 0.
The space vector referred to it rotates at the synchronous speed s. We denote the
corresponding space vector with a superscript s (stationary) according to:
s

x x jx
We can also define a space vector aligned with the rotor. The reference frame in this
case is called the D-Q reference frame and it rotates with angular speed of m.
Therefore the space vector referred to it rotates at the slip speed of r.
r

x xD jxQ
Finally, we can also define a space vector aligned with the synchronous reference
frame, at a speed of s. The space vector referred to it does not rotate, that is, it
presents constant real and imaginary parts. This is called the d-q frame.
a

x xd jxq
18

Other transformations

19

Reference frame transformations

Our objective now is to represent balanced, but time-varying (dynamic) behavior of a
DFIG. There will be three types of equations that we will need:
Voltage equations
Flux linkage equations
Motion equations

20

Revolving rotor with constant flux

Consider the rotating magnetic field (or a sinusoidal traveling wave) of an air gap,
i.e., the plot on the left of the below figure and how it moves with time for a revolving
rotor with constant flux (like that of a synchronous machine rotor). We see that, for
fixed time (just one of the plots), there is sinusoidal variation of flux density with space.
Also, if we stand on a single point on the stator (e.g., =90) and measure flux (or flux
density) as a function of time, we see that for fixed space (the vertical dotted line at
90, and the red eye on the pictures to the right), there is sinusoidal variation of flux
density w/time.
We can show that 3-phase, balanced
currents of 3 stator windings separated
by 120 degrees achieve the same thing.
Lets look at that.

21

Rotating magnetic field

Consider the 3-phase currents developed in the stator windings concentrated at

points along the stator circumference 120 degrees apart. The currents are given by:

ia I cos s t

ib I cos( s t 120)
ic I cos( s t 240)

Whenever we have a current carrying coil, it will produce a magnetomotive force (MMF)
equal to Ni. (MMF is the magnetic circuit analogue to voltage in an electric circuit.) And
so each of the above three currents produce a time varying MMF around the stator. Each
MMF has a maximum in space, occurring on the axis of the phase, of Fam, Fbm, Fcm,
expressed as

Fam (t ) Fm cos s t NI cos s t

Fbm (t ) Fm cos( s t 120) NI cos( s t 120)

(*)

Fcm (t ) Fm cos( s t 240) NI cos( s t 240)

Define the angle as measured from the a-phase axis, and consider points in the
airgap. At any time t, the spatial maximums expressed above occur on the axes of
the corresponding phases and vary sinusoidally with around the air gap. We can
combine the time variation with the spatial variation in the following way:
Each individual phase
MMF here varies with
around the air gap and
has an amplitude that
varies with time.

Fa ( , t ) Fam (t ) cos
Fb ( , t ) Fbm (t ) cos( 120) Now substitute (*) into
Fc ( , t ) Fcm (t ) cos( 240)

these equations.

22

Rotating magnetic field

Fa ( , t ) Fm cos s t cos
Fb ( , t ) Fm cos( s t 120) cos( 120)
Fc ( , t ) Fm cos( s t 240) cos( 240)
Now add the three MMFs above:

F ( , t ) Fa ( , t ) Fb ( , t ) Fc ( , t )
Fm cos s t cos
Fm cos(s t 120) cos( 120)
Fm cos(s t 240) cos( 240)
Use coscos=0.5[cos(-)+cos(+)] and then simplify, and you will obtain:

F ( , t )

3
Fm cos( s t )
2

If we plot the above along the airgap, we will see exactly the same MMF distribution
that was created by the revolving rotor with constant flux.

23

Space vectors
F ( , t )

3
Fm cos(s t )
2

=90

24