Dynamic Responses of DFIG Fault Currents Under
Constant AC Exitation Condition
Luhua Zhang, Xu Cai and Jiahu Guo
Department of Electrical Engineering
Shanghai Jiaotong University
Shanghai, China
zhangluhua@hotmail.com, caixu_cumt@263.net, hn_gjh@163.com
Abstract—In wind power system, the fault ride-through
capability of doubly fed induction generators (DFIG) has become
the focus of study. The analysis and calculation of fault currents
are of important directive significance for implementing DFIG
fault ride-through. This paper analyzes dynamic responses of
DFIG stator and rotor currents when three phase short circuit
occurs at stator terminal, and also proposes a new approach,
which transfers DFIG into an induction machine with rotor
excitation and an idle squirrel-cage induction machine, to
calculate the fault currents. The rotor excited induction machine
and idle squirrel-cage machine respectively represent the
particular solution and general solution of DFIG differential
equations in physical meaning. Furthermore, main components
of short-circuit currents as well as their relations are presented.
The stator and rotor currents contain Ȧs component and sȦs
component respectively, which relate to steady state, and both
comprise DC component and (1-s)Ȧs component, which relate to
transient state. The maximum rotor and stator short-circuit
currents as well as the times when they appear are derived in
this paper. Finally all above results are validated in
Matlab/Simulink.
Keywords-wind generation; doubly fed induction generator;
short-circuit current; fault ride-through
I. INTRODUCTION
Nowadays the variable speed wind turbines with doubly-
fed induction generators (DFIG) are becoming more widely
used in wind power generation system [1]. With the increased
penetration of wind power into power system over the last
decades, a sudden high loss of wind power during grid faults,
due to wind turbine disconnection, could generate control
problems of frequency and voltage in the system, and as worst
case a system collapse [2]. Power system operators have
revised the interconnection requirements for wind power [3].
These requirements in most of the cases are specifically
addressed to the fault ride-through capabilities of wind power
systems. Various measures including additional hardware
circuits, such as Crowbar [4], DC-chopper and flux-damper [5],
as well as improved converter control strategies [6]are taken to
implement DFIG fault ride-through. No matter which method
is adopted, a thorough understanding of DFIG fault currents is
required.
There are many researches concentrating on dynamic
responses of DFIG under fault conditions. Qualitative analysis
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of DFIG responses on symmetrical fault condition is presented
in [9]. Reference [7] analyzes dynamic responses of fault
currents by simulation, but no analytical result is obtained.
Reference [8] gets analytical time-domain expressions of stator
and rotor fault currents through solving DFIG differential
equations, and demonstrates the main components in fault
currents. However, it is impractical to use for its complicated
solving process and results. Reference [9] although gains
concise expressions by space vector analysis, its research is
established on an idle squirrel-cage induction machine, which
differs from an wind turbine driven DFIG in operation states.
The differences of running states lead to the absence of slip
frequency component of fault currents in [13]. This paper
introduces analytical expressions of short-circuit currents.
Vector analysis and superposition principle are used to
determine the steady-state currents and transient currents.
Furthermore, the maximum short-circuit currents and the times
when they appear are presented in this article, which provides
guidance for wind turbine fault ride-through.
II. SOLUTIONS OF DFIG DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
A. Mathematical Model of the DFIG
A DFIG in the reference frame rotating at the synchronous
angular speed Ȧ1 can be expressed as (1) to (4) respectively
us = Rs is + dȥ1 dt + jω1ȥ s (1)
ur = Rr ir + dȥ r dt + jωsȥ r (2)
ȥ s = Ls is + Lm ir (3)
ȥ r = Lm is + Lr ir . (4)
Where, us, ur are stator and rotor voltage vectors;is, ir are stator
and rotor current vectors; ȥs, ȥr are stator and rotor flux
vectors; Rs, Rr are stator and rotor resistance; Ȧs is slip angular
speed; Lm is magnetizing inductance, Ls, Lr are stator and rotor
inductance, Ls=Lm +Lls, Lr=Lm +Llr, and Lls, Llr are stator and
rotor leakage inductance respectively.
Substituting (3) and (4) into (1) and (2) yields differential
equations with respect to is and ir
us = Rs is + jω1 Ls is + jω1 Lm ir + Ls dis dt + Lm dir dt (5)
ur = Rr ir + jωs Lm is + jωs Lr ir + Lm dis dt + Lr dir dt . (6)
 In order to facilitate solving the equations, as well as
provide a safety margin, the paper considers the worst failure,
i.e., three phase short-circuit occurs at the terminal of the stator,
then us=0. In addition, the DFIG operates in a steady state
before the failure happens. When the failure occurs, the rotor
side converter can’t respond immediately, and voltage applied
to the rotor windings remains unchanged in a short time range,
which may be several milliseconds to tens milliseconds
decided by the controller capability, signal transmit-receive
circuits and the design of the filters, etc [10]. Therefore in this
time range the DFIG is exited with constant AC power source,
and the rotor speed keeps unchanged because the wind turbine
inertia time constant, usually around few seconds, is much
larger than the system electromagnetic time constant [11].
B. Physical Meaning of Solutions to DFIG Differential
Equations
The total solution of non-homogeneous linear differential
equation consists of a particular solution to the non-
homogeneous differential equation and a general solution to
the homogeneous differential equation. In linear dynamic
circuit time domain analysis, the particular solution is steady
state component, relating to the input excitation, and the
general solution corresponds to transient component, only
having relations to the circuit construction. The transient
component decays exponentially, tending to zero within a time
span, which depends on the circuit construction and the
elements parameters.
The stator and rotor currents are composed of particular
solutions to (5) (6), and general solutions to homogeneous
equations of (5) and (6). Since Lls  Lm and Llr  Lm , it can be
de derived from (3) and (4)
is = ( Lr ȥ s − Lmȥ r ) ( Ls Lr − L2m ) ≈ (ȥ s − ȥ r ) ( Lls + Llr ) (7)
ir = ( Lsȥ r − Lmȥ s ) ( Ls Lr − L2m ) ≈ (ȥ r − ȥ s ) ( Lls + Llr ) ≈ −is (8)
Equations (7) and (8) show that DFIG stator and rotor current
vectors are equal in amplitude but opposite in phase. Therefore
only details of solving process for rotor failure currents are
presented because of the space limitation.
­ 0 = Rs is + jω1 ( Ls is + Lm ir ) + Ls dis dt + Lm dir dt (9)
®
¯ur = Rr ir + jω s ( Lm is + Lr ir ) + Lm dis dt + Lr dir dt
The steady-state component of rotor fault current ir ' is the
particular solution of (9), i.e., the rotor current flowing through
a DFIG that is represented by (9) operating in a steady-state. In
physical meaning, (9) denotes a clockwise rotated DFIG with
rotor excited and stator short-circuited which corresponds to an
anticlockwise rotated squirrel-cage induction machine.
According to the principles of electric machinery [12], the
machine described above is running in electromagnetic
braking state, in which the electrical power inputted from rotor
windings and the mechanical power absorbed from rotor shaft
both turn into heat losses of machine windings. As a result of
relatively small impedance of the windings, great currents will
emerge in machine windings. Therefore the steady-state
solution contributes an important part of rotor fault current.
The transient component of rotor fault current ir '' is the
general solution to homogenous equation of (9), i.e., the
solution satisfying (9) with ur=0, which corresponds to a
transient state of a squirrel-cage induction machine short-
circuited at stator terminal.
Then the rotor short-circuit current can be derived from
solving the two models mentioned above, so does the stator
short-circuit current,
ir = ir '+ ir '' is = is '+ is ''. (10)
Where is ' and is '' are steady-state and transient components
of stator fault current, respectively.
III. DFIG CURRENTS UNDER THREE PHASE SHORT-CIRCUIT
AT STATOR TERMINAL
A. Main Components of Short-Circuit Currents
In steady-state, the rotor windings excitation frequency is
sȦ1, where s is the slip. The rotor flux ȥr rotates in the speed of
sȦ1 respecting to the rotor windings, as well as the rotor shaft
rotates with the speed (1-s)Ȧ1, hence a synchronous frequency
Ȧs current is developed in the stator windings, which is
subjected to the rotor flux. In transient state, when short-circuit
occurs at the stator side, the stator flux freezes. Thus a
transient current of zero frequency appears. The rotor is
subjected to stator frozen magnetic field, so a transient current
with the frequency (1-s)Ȧ1 is developed in rotor windings. On
the other hand, the DC current in stator windings will act to
demagnetize the rotor field. Since the rotor flux linkages must
remain constant, a DC current will be induced in rotor
windings trying to oppose the demagnetizing effect of the
stator currents [12]. The rotor DC current will induce a current
with frequency (1-s)Ȧ1 in stator windings owing to the rotor
rotation. As can be seen, when a three phase short-circuit
occurs at stator terminal the rotor fault current mainly consists
of current with slip frequency sȦ1, representing the steady-
state component, DC current and current with frequency of (1-
s)Ȧ1 that represent transient component. Similarly the stator
fault current is mainly composed of steady-state component
which is current with synchronous frequency Ȧ1 and transient
components with zero frequency and with frequency (1-s)Ȧ1.
The currents and fluxes in the machine under a short-
circuit are determined by space vector analysis in two steps.
Firstly the stator and rotor resistance are neglected. The
amplitude of a vector is obtained. Then the transient
components are multiplied by a damping factor, which is based
on the resistance and leakage inductance of the machine. The
results that are obtained in this way have an error of 10%—
20%. It is demonstrated in section II that the transient
components are gained from analysis of an idle induction
machine. When the short-circuit occurs, the rotor and stator
fluxes have the same phase and approximately the same
amplitude. The stator flux is fixed to the stator, but the rotor
flux will change with the rotor rotation and after half a period,
it will be 180eout of phase and in an opposite direction to the
stator flux. It can be derived from (7) and (8) that the currents
of the machine will then reach their maximum value. Under
normal condition the DFIG runs in a speed range of 0.75~1.25
p.u., which is different from an idle induction machine. It
indicates that when the DFIG runs in super-synchronous state
the maximum currents will emerge in less than half a period,
and when the DFIG is in sub-synchronous state, they will take From (14) and (15), steady-state rotor flux is expressed in rotor
more than half a period. Furthermore, the stator and rotor reference frame
resistance will accelerate rotation of the flux. The larger the ȥ 'r = Vr ( jsω1 ) e jsȦ t . (22) 1

resistance, the faster the flux rotates. Actually the rotation due When the DFIG operates in steady-state, the following
to winding resistance could be neglected because of the small expression holds [14]
values of DFIG resistance [13].
Vr ≈ sVs . (23)
B. Calculation of Short-Circuit Currents Substituting (21), (22) and (23) to (13), steady-state rotor fault
current is obtained
According to [16] the stator and rotor transient reactance of
i 'r _ s = Vs ( jω1 L 'r ) e jsȦ t . (24) 1

the DFIG are expressed

­ L 's = Ls − L2m Lr Finally, the rotor fault current may be written
(11)
® 1 Vs jsȦ t
¯ L 'r = Lr − Lm Ls .
2
ir = e 1

Then the stator and rotor short-circuit transient time constant L 'r jω1
LV 1 − t 1 − t (25)
+ m s( −
T T
can be written e r
e
j(1-s)Ȧ t
e ) 1 s

jω1 Ls L 'r Lr L 's

­ Ts = L 's Rs (12) V 1 jsȦ t L − t L − t
® = s ( e + m e
T
− m e
j(1- s)Ȧ t
e
Ts
).
¯Tr = L 'r Rr .
1 r 1

jω1 L 'r Ls L 'r Lr L 's

From (3), (4) and (11) The stator fault current can be obtained from (8)
L ȥ ȥ L ȥ ȥ (13) Vs 1 Lm − t Lm − t
ir = − m s + r = − m s + r . is = − ( e
jȦs t
+ e
Ts
− e
j(1- s)Ȧs t
e Tr
). (26)
Ls L 'r L 'r Lr L 's L 'r jωs L 'r Ls L 'r Lr L 's
In steady-state and neglecting stator and rotor resistance (1) At the half period T/2=ʌ/Ȧs, the fault currents reach their
and (2) may be expressed in synchronous reference frame maximum values
­ us ≈ jω1ȥ s
®
(14) ir max = is max
¯ ur ≈ jsω1ȥ r . V L −T L' L −T
The stator and rotor fluxes keep unchanged when failure = s (1 + m e 2T − r m e 2T ) (27) r s

occurs, by the law of flux conservation. Supposing Vs, Vr are
stator and rotor voltage amplitude respectively before failure
happens, then the initial fluxes of stator and rotor after failure
may be written
­ ijs 0 = V ( jω1 )
®
ij
¯ r0 = V ( jsω 1 )
The transient stator flux in rotor reference frame can be
obtained
ȥ ''s = ijs 0 e j(1- s)Ȧ t = V ( jω1 ) e j(1- s)Ȧ t .
1 1(16)
As mentioned above, transient components are derived
from an idle induction machine, of which rotor current is
approximately zero. Hence the transient rotor field
counteracting demagnetization, which is caused by stator DC
component, can be obtained from (3) and (4), then expressed
in rotor reference frame
ȥ ''r = Lm Ls ijs 0 = LmVs ( Ls jω1 ) .
In reality transient stator and rotor fluxes decay with the stator
and rotor time constant, then (12), (16) and (17) give
­ȥ '' = V ( jω ) e j(1- s)Ȧ t e − t T
° s s 1
1 s
® current emerges approximately at the half period, i.e., 0.01s.
− t
°¯ȥ ''r = Lm Ls <Vs ( jω1 ) e T r According to DFIG parameters shown in Tab. 1, the transient
Substituting (18) to (13) yields transient rotor current
ir '' = i ''r _(1− s ) + i ''r _ DC
= − Lm ( Lr L 's )< Vs ( jω1 ) e j (1− s ) ω t e
ω1 L 'r Ls Lr L 's
V
≈ s .
ω1 L 'r
Equation (27) demonstrates that the maximum fault current of
(15) the DFIG depends on the voltage level before the failure
occurs, and also the rotor transient reactance if resistance is
neglected.
IV.
VALIDATION
A DFIG based wind turbine system is built in
Matlab/Simulink. Vector control schemes are adopted to
control the DFIG using back-to-back converters[13]. The 5th
order DFIG model, which represents the behavior of the
generator in more detail and includes the transient behavior of
the currents[14], is used in the simulation. The DFIG is in
(17) steady-state from 0s, and s=0.2. The three-phase short-circuit
happens at 0.8s. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show the dynamic responses
of rotor and stator currents, respectively.
As can be seen from Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 the maximum
(18)
time constants are Ts=0.0142s, Tr=0.0202s. Transient
components have approximately decayed to zero in 5~10
circles, therefore, the currents reach their minimum at 0.9s.
− t
(19) Fluctuations from 0.9s to 0.95s are caused by the rotor side
1 Ts

− t converter trying to counteract the failure current. In such

+ Lm ( Ls L 'r )< Vs ( jω1 ) e T .
In steady-state (1) is expressed in stator reference frame
ȥ s = ³ (us − Rs is ). (20)
Neglecting stator resistance, it follows
ȥ s = ȥ 's = 0.
r
condition, the rotor side converter reaches its limiting, keeping
voltage unchanged as a protection scheme. Therefore, the
DFIG reaches the other steady-state at 0.95s. The maximum
short-current obtained from (26) is 3.8 p.u., which has an error
of 5% contrasted with the result gained from simulation.Fig. 3
(21)
and Fig. 4 are frequency spectrum of fault currents. They
 TABLE I. DATA SHEET OF DFIG by the rotor overcurrent. This paper systematically analyzes
Rated power 2 MW Rotor resistance 0.051 p.u. dynamic responses of the DFIG fault currents under constant
Rated frequency 50 Hz Stator resistance 0.0606 p.u. AC excitation condition. Main components of short-circuit
Rated stator 690 V Stator leakage 0.171 p.u. currents as well as their relations are presented. The stator and
voltage inductance rotor currents contain Ȧs component and sȦs component
Rotor leakage 0.156 p.u. Magnetizing 2.9 p.u.
inductance inductance
respectively, and both comprise DC component and (1-s)Ȧs
component which is induced by the DC component. The
maximum rotor and stator short-circuit currents as well as the
times when they appear are derived from the deduced current
expressions. The results of this paper are of important directive
significance for implementing DFIG fault ride-through, as well
as the design and protection of wind turbine systems.

Figure 1. Dynamic response of rotor short-circuit current
Figure 2. Dynamic response of stator short-circuit current
Figure 3. FFT analysis of rotor short-circuit current
Figure 4. FFT analysis of stator short-ciruit current
demonstrate that the rotor short-circuit current mainly contains
10Hz component, 40Hz component and DC component,
meanwhile the stator short-circuit current mainly consists of
50Hz component, 40Hz component and DC component.
Otherwise, the voltage drops on stator and rotor resistance will
produce AC components in stator and rotor fluxes [15], which
induce a spot of other components, e.g., 20Hz, 30Hz and 60Hz
components.
V. CONCLUSIONS
DFIG based wind turbines are heavily stressed during grid
faults. Measures are required to take to suppress overcurrent in
DFIG windings and overvoltage in DC-link, which is caused
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