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SUMMARYMulti-phase AC machines are nowadays widely considered as potentially viable solutions for numerous variable-speed drive applications. With an increased emphasis on renewable electric energy generation, where interfacing with the grid typically takes place by means of power electronic converters, or if the generators are used for stand-alone applications, the advantages of multi-phase machines that make them viable for drive applications can also be effectively exploited in generating applications. This paper discusses behavior of a six-phase self-excited induction generator (SPSEIG) configured to operate as a stand-alone electric energy source in conjunction with a hydro power plant. A purely experimental treatment is provided with the emphasis placed on operating regimes that illustrate the advantages of using a SPSEIG. In particular, it is shown that the SPSEIG can operate with a single three-phase capacitor bank, so that the loss of excitation or fault at one winding does not lead to the system shutdown. The generator can also supply two separate three-phase loads, which represents an additional advantage. Last but not least, outputs of the two three-phase windings can be used to supply a single three-phase load through an interconnecting six-phase to three-phase transformer, in which case failure of one three-phase winding does not lead to the system shutdown and the load can be still supplied from the remaining healthy winding. Experimental results include study of self-excitation transients, loading transients with independent three-phase resistive and resistive-inductive load at each of the two three-phase winding sets, and measured steady state characteristics for various load and /or capacitor bank configurations.

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