The growing global demand for electricity, driven by the development of electromobility, data centers, and smart technologies, necessitates innovative approaches to energy generation. Wind power, as a clean and renewable energy source, plays a pivotal role in the global transition towards low-carbon power systems. This paper presents a comprehensive review of generator technologies used in wind turbine applications, ranging from conventional synchronous and asynchronous machines to advanced concepts such as low-speed direct-drive (DD) generators, axial-flux topologies, and superconducting generators utilizing low-temperature superconductors (LTS) and high-temperature superconductors (HTS). The advantages and limitations of each design are discussed in the context of efficiency, weight, reliability, scalability, and suitability for offshore deployment. Special attention is given to HTS-based generator systems, which offer superior power density and reduced losses, along with challenges related to cryogenic cooling and materials engineering. Furthermore, the paper analyzes selected modern generator designs to provide references for enhancing the performance of grid-synchronized hybrid microgrids integrating solar PV, wind, battery energy storage, and HTS-enhanced generators. This review serves as a valuable resource for researchers and engineers developing next-generation wind energy technologies with improved efficiency and integration potential.

This paper deals with the early detection of fault conditions in induction motors using a combined model- and machine-learning-based approach with flexible adaptation to individual motors. The method is based on analytical modeling in the form of a multiple coupled circuit model and a feedforward neural network. In addition, the differential evolution algorithm independently identifies the parameters of the motor for the multiple coupled circuit model based on easily obtained measurement data from a healthy state. With the identified parameters, the multiple coupled circuit model is used to perform dynamic simulations of the various fault cases of the specific induction motor. The simulation data set of the stator currents is used to train the neural network for classification of different stator, rotor, mechanical, and voltage supply faults. Finally, the combined method is successfully validated with measured data of faults in an induction motor, proving the transferability of the simulation-trained neural network to a real environment. Neglecting bearing faults, the fault cases from the validation data are classified with an accuracy of 94.81%.

Applying a novel magnetic sub-modelling technique allows resolving local phenomena such as eddy currents in electric machine components while incorporating effects due to magnetic fields arising from larger machine parts. Employing this procedure to turbogenerators gives opportunity to study effects of a rotor’s magnetic field impinging upon and penetrating individual copper strands of stator Roebel-bars at core ends. It should be noted that the magnetically relevant end region of examined non-salient pole synchronous machines extends to several meters, whereas the complex geometry of a Roebel-bar is four to five orders of magnitude smaller. This paper highlights the significance of step iron design for joule heating inside stator bars and describes the mathematical framework of the applied procedure. This cutting-edge method enables accurate calculation of resulting heat generation rates due to the described phenomenon with high resolution for different end zone designs.

The transition of power grids to implement large amounts of nonsynchronous renewables reduces the inertia in the power system. Therefore, the rate of change of frequency (ROCOF) after a fault of given energy is higher in low inertia grids than in grids with mainly synchronous machines operating. Standard faults for the design of existing synchronous machines assume fixed frequency grids, in which an electrically close fault happens. It is not tested, if the machines can ride through transient disturbances with high ROCOF. For ROCOF values of up to 1 Hz/s as foreseen for the upcoming grid code of the Republic of Ireland and up to 2 Hz/s for Northern Ireland, a thorough verification, if generators are capable to ride through such events is necessary. For this study, ROCOF frequency traces provided by the transmission system operators (TSOs) of Ireland were first benchmarked with a full-grid model and in a second step impressed on a model of generators connected to the power grid via a step-up transformer to study transient stability and nonlinear response of the generator. This paper focusses on the ability of nine different synchronous machines to stay connected to the transmission system during severe ROCOF events without losing synchronism.

Purpose: Problems caused by end winding vibrations in power plant generators have become increasingly evident in recent years and reveal a need for monitoring and diagnostic systems. An increasing number of operational outages are caused by failures of the winding insulation or the conductor itself due to end winding vibrations. Meanwhile, it is clear that the condition of the end winding must be continuously monitored during operation to detect ineffective end winding support in time and to plan the repair. Design/methodology/approach: In this paper, the complex and nonlinear excitation mechanisms in large machines are presented and modern methods for vibration monitoring are described. Through a consistent use of vibration monitoring in the end winding area as well as the vibration diagnosis done by experts, damage mechanisms can be detected at an early stage, repair measures can be planned and serious damage owing to a weakened main insulation can be avoided. Findings: By combining modal analysis and trend monitoring in relation to the learned vibration behaviour, the end winding condition can be assessed in a differentiated manner and changes in the end winding structure can be detected early. Originality/value: Finally, an assessment for a two-pole, air-cooled turbo generator is proposed.

Long transmission lines have to be compensated to enhance the transport of active power. But a wrong design of the compensation may lead to subsynchronous resonances (SSR). For studies often park equivalent circuits are used. The parameters of the models are often determined analytically or by a three-phase short-circuit test. Models with this parameters give good results for frequencies of 50 Hz and 100 Hz resp. 60 Hz and 120 Hz. But SSR occurs at lower frequencies what arises the question of the reliability of the used models. Therefore in this publication a novel method for the determination of Park equivalent circuit parameters is presented. Herein the parameters are determined form time functions of the currents and the electromagnetic moment of the machine calculated by transient finite-element simulations. This parameters are used for network simulations and compared with the finite-element calculations. Compared to the parameters derived by a three-phase short-circuit a significant better accuracy of simulation results can be achieved by the presented method.