Modeling and Simulation of Variable Frequency
Transformer for Power Transfer in-between
Power System Networks
Farhad Ilahi Bakhsh, Mohammad Irshad, and M. S. Jamil Asghar, Member, IEEE
Abstract--Recently a variable frequency transformer (VFT)
has been used as a flexible ac link between two power systems. It
avoids both HVDC link and FACTS based power transmission
control system. Basically, it is a rotating transformer whose
torque and speed are adjusted to control the power transmission.
In this paper, a simulated model of VFT is used as a controllable
bidirectional power transmission device that can transfer power
in-between power system networks. A digital simulation model of
VFT and its control system models are developed with MATLAB
and a series of studies on power transmission between power
system networks are carried out with this model. The response
characteristics of power transfer under various torque conditions
are discussed. The voltage, current, torque and speed plots are
also obtained. Thus, the VFT concept and its advantages are
verified by simulation results. It has distinct advantages in terms
of controllability over conventional phase angle regulating
transformers and does not inherently produce harmonics in case
of many HVDC and FACTS technologies.
Index Terms-- Flexible ac link, Interconnection, MATLAB,
Power System networks, Power transmission, Variable
Frequency Transformer (VFT).
I. INTRODUCTION
T HE electric power supply systems are widely
interconnected, involving connections inside utilities’ own
territories which extend to inter-utility interconnections and
then to inter-regional and international connections. This is
done for economic reasons, to reduce the cost of electricity
and to improve reliability of power supply [2]. These
interconnections are needed because, apart from delivery, the
purpose of the transmission network is to pool power plants
and load centers in order to minimize the total power
generation capacity and fuel cost. The transmission
interconnections enable taking advantage of diversity of loads,
availability of sources, and fuel price in order to supply
Farhad Ilahi Bakhsh is pursuing Masters in Power System and Drives,
Department of Electrical Engineering , Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh,
India.
Mohammad Irshad pursued Masters in Power System and Drives,
Department of Electrical Engineering , Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh,
India.
M. S. Jamil Asghar is professor in the Department of Electrical
Engineering, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India.
978-1-4244-7882-8/11/$26.00 ©2011 IEEE
electricity to the loads at minimum cost with a required
reliability. There are two ways of transmission
interconnection. One is ac interconnection, just connected the
two synchronous networks with ac transmission lines. It is
simple and economic but increases the complexity of power
system operation and decreases the stabilities of the power
system under some serious faults. The drawbacks of this
arrangement are that the operation is stepwise (rather than
continuous) and slow (to deal with stability related constraints
on the grid). For this reason, the ac interconnection is replaced
by another one known as Back-to-Back HVDC. The Back-to-
Back HVDC is asynchronous interconnection, which is
implemented via HVDC for most cases at present. It is easy
for bulk power transfer and also flexible for system operation.
But the design of HVDC system is quite complicated and
expensive. The HVDC link requires a very costly converter
plant at sending end and an inverter plant at receiving end.
Alternatively recently, a new technology known as variable
frequency transformer (VFT) has been developed for
transmission interconnections. By adding different devices
with it, power transmission or power flow can be controlled
within and between power system networks in a desired way
[3].
II. VFT CONCEPT AND COMPONENTS
A variable frequency transformer (VFT) is a controllable,
bidirectional transmission device that can transfer power
between asynchronous networks [4]. The construction of VFT
is similar to conventional asynchronous machines, where the
two separate electrical networks are connected to the stator
winding and the rotor winding, respectively. One power
system is connected with the rotor side of the VFT and the
another power system is connected with the stator side of the
VFT. The electrical power is exchanged between the two
networks by magnetic coupling through the air gap of the VFT
and both are electrically isolated.
The VFT is essentially a continuously adjustable phase
shifting transformer that can be operated at an adjustable
phase angle. The VFT consists of following core components:
a rotary transformer for power exchange, a drive motor to
control the movement or speed of the rotor and to control the
transfer of power. A drive motor is used to apply torque to the
rotor of the rotary transformer and adjust the position of the
rotor relative to the stator, thereby controlling the magnitude
and direction of the power transmission through the VFT [5].
The world's first VFT, was manufactured by GE, installed and
commissioned in Hydro-Quebec's Langlois substation, where
it is used to exchange power up to 100 MW between the
asynchronous power grids of Quebec (Canada) and New York
(USA) [6].
A stable power exchange between the two asynchronous
systems is possible by controlling the speed and torque
applied to the rotor, which are controlled externally by the
drive motor. When the systems are in synchronism, the rotor
of VFT remains in the position in which the stator and rotor
voltage are in phase with the associated systems. In order to Fig. 1. The VFT model representation
transfer power from one system to other, the rotor of the VFT
is rotated. If torque applied is in one direction, then power one direction then power transmission takes place from power
transmission takes place from the stator winding to the rotor system #1 to power system#2. If torque is applied in opposite
winding. If torque is applied in the opposite direction, then direction then power transmission reverses. Here, in the power
power transmission takes place from the rotor winding to the transmission process, only real power transmission or real
stator winding. The power transmission is proportional to the power flow, is being discussed.
magnitude and direction of the torque applied. The drive
B. VFT Analysis
motor is designed to continuously produce torque even at zero
speed (standstill). When the two systems are no longer in The power transmission through the variable frequency
synchronism, the rotor of the VFT will rotate continuously transformer (VFT) can be approximated as follow:
and the rotational speed will be proportional to the difference PVFT = PMAX Sin net (1)
in frequency between the two power networks (grids). During where,
this operation the power transmission or flow is maintained. PVFT = Power transmission through VFT from stator to
The VFT is designed to continuously regulate power rotor,
transmission even with drifting frequencies on both grids. PMAX = Maximum theoretical power transmission possible
Regardless of power transmission, the rotor inherently orients through the VFT in either direction which occurs when the net
itself to follow the phase angle difference imposed by the two angle  net is near 90. The PMAX is given by:
asynchronous systems.
PMAX = Vs Vr / Xsr (2)
III. VFT MODEL AND ANALYSIS where,
Vs = Voltage magnitude on stator terminal,
A. VFT Model Vr = Voltage magnitude on rotor terminal and
In the model, the VFT is a doubly-fed wound rotor Xsr = Total reactance between stator and rotor terminals.
induction machine (WRIM), the three phase windings are
provided on both stator side and rotor side. The two power
systems (#1 and #2) are connected through the VFT as shown
in Fig. 1. The power system#1 is connected to the stator side
of the VFT, energized by voltage, VS with phase angle, S.
The power system#2 is connected to the rotor side of the VFT,
energized by voltage, VR with phase angle, r. A drive motor
is mechanically coupled to the rotor of WRIM. A drive motor
and control system are used to apply torque, TD to the rotor of
the WRIM which adjusts the position of the rotor relative to
the stator, thereby controlling the direction and magnitude of
the power transmission through the VFT.
It is convenient to represent the VFT model by an
equivalent VFT power transmission or power flow model, as Fig. 2. Power transmission from power system #1 to power system #2 using
shown in Figure 2. The power flow directions showing the VFT
power transmission from power system#1 to power system#2
through VFT. In fact, the direction of power flow could be Also net = s - (r+ rs) (3)
from power system#1 to power system#2 or vice-versa where,
depending on the operating conditions. If torque is applied in s = Phase-angle of ac voltage on stator, with respect to a
reference phasor,
r = Phase-angle of ac voltage on rotor, with respect to a
reference phasor and
 rs = Phase-angle of the machine rotor with respect to
stator.
Thus, the power transmission through the VFT is given
by:
PVFT = ((Vs Vr/ Xsr) sin(s - (r + rs)) (4)
The phasor diagram showing reference phasor, Vs, Vr, s, r,
rs and net is shown in Figure 3.
Fig. 3. The phasors of VFT
For stable operation, the angle net must have an absolute
value significantly less than 90˚. The power transmission or
power flow will be limited to a fraction of the maximum
theoretical level given in (2). Here, the power transmission
equations are analyzed based on assumption that VFT is an
ideal and lossless machine, with negligible leakage reactance
and magnetizing current. The power balance equation requires
that the electrical power flowing out of the stator winding
must flow into the combined electrical path on the rotor
winding and the mechanical path to the drive system, i.e.
Ps = PD + Pr (5)
where,
Ps = electrical power to the stator windings,
Pr = electrical power to the rotor windings and
PD = mechanical power from the torque-control drive
system.
Since the machine behaves like a transformer, the ampere-
turns must balance between rotor and stator:
Ns*Is = Nr*Ir (6)
where,
Ns = number of turns on stator winding,
Nr = number of turns on rotor winding,
Is = current out of the stator winding and
Ir = current out of the rotor winding.
Both the stator and rotor windings link the same magnetic flux
but their frequency differs such that the voltage will also
differs by the same ratio, therefore
Vs = Ns* f s*a, (7)
Vr = Nr* f r *a, (8)
and Vr/ Nr = Vs/ Ns * f r/ f s (9)
where,
fs = frequency of voltage on stator winding (Hz),
fr = frequency of voltage on rotor winding (Hz), and
a = air-gap flux.
The nature of the machine is such that in steady state, the
rotor speed is proportional to the difference in the frequency
(electrical) on the stator and rotor windings,
frm = fs - fr , (10)
and rm = f rm *120/ NP (11)
where,
frm = rotor mechanical speed in electrical frequency (Hz),
NP = number of poles in the machine, and
rm = rotor mechanical speed in rpm.
Combining the above relationships gives the power exchanged
with the drive system as
PD = Ps - Pr = Vs*Is - Vr*Ir
= Vs*Is - (Nr*Vs/Ns*fr/fs)*(Ns*Is/Nr)
= Vs*Is*(1 - fr/fs)
or, PD = Ps*(1 - fr/fs) (12)
The torque produced by the drive system (TD) is
TD = PD / frm
= Vs*Is*[(fs-fr)/fs]/(fs-fr)
= Vs*Is/fs
= Ns*fs*a*Is/fs
or, TD = Ns*Is*a (13)
It shows that the drive system torque, TD is independent of
rotational speed, being only proportional to stator current and
air gap flux. Since the machine operates near constant flux,
this means that torque is proportional only to the stator
current. Hence, if the stator frequency is constant, then the
applied torque should be proportional to power transmission
through the VFT [1].
IV. DIGITAL SIMULATION OF VFT
A. MATLAB Simulation Model
For MATLAB, here VFT is represented as a wound rotor
induction machine (WRIM). The WRIM is double-fed and is
simulated with the asynchronous machine SI units in
MATLAB simulink. The power system#1 and power
system#2 are simulated with three phase voltage sources as
shown in Fig. 4. The three phase voltage source 1, is
connected to the stator side of WRIM and the three phase
voltage source 2 is connected to rotor side of WRIM. The
drive motor is simulated with 4-quadrant single-phase rectifier
dc motor drive. The torque is applied to WRIM as mechanical
torque Tm through a 4-quadrant single-phase rectifier dc motor
drive. To simulate various power transmission or power flow
functions, discrete Fourier and other blocks are used. Then
this simulated model, as shown in Fig. 4, is used to solve DC Torque (Nm)
electric power system using VFT [7]. 5
0
Under different torque conditions, the power transferred -5
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
from the stator to the rotor side of VFT and between power Tem_AC (Nm)
system networks is simulated. The simulated results of 5
0
waveforms of stator voltage, rotor voltage, stator current, rotor -5
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
current, speed and torque are shown in Figs. 5 – 16. Rotor speed (rpm)
5
Discrete, 0
s = 0.0001 s
powergui
magnitude magnitude
-5
signal
signal
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
angle sin angle
Fourier 2 Fourier1 Power (W)
10
-C- 0
Constant2 -10
Display2
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Time(seconds)
power

Fig. 6. Waveforms showing torques, speed and power transfer capability.

-K-
<Rotor speed (wm)>
speed
<Rotor angle thetam (rad)>

Display1
It is evident from the simulated results that under different
3-ph stator voltage
3-ph rotor voltage external torque condition, the power transmission through the
A
c
A
Tm m
A
V
A
VFT is not zero. The magnitude and frequency of voltage are
B
a

b
B
A

B
a

b
B
a

b
B kept same for all operating conditions (Fig.5) and the power
C cC C c Cc C transmission through VFT under different torque condition are
Three-Phase Source2 3 HP - 220 V Three-Phase Source1
50 Hz - 1500 rpm
shown in Figs. 6-9.
motor_AC

-4 SP Motor motor_DC
b) For TD = 1 Nm, Fig.7 shows the relevant waveforms.
Constant 1
-1 Tm Conv . conv_DC Tem_DC

Va+ A+ Ctrl ctrl_DC

DC2 DC Torque (Nm)
Va- A- Wm power 2
0
Four-Quadrant Single-Phase
Rectifier DC Drive -2
power 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Tem_AC (Nm)
5
0

Fig. 4. MATLAB Simulation model of VFT based power system networks -5

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

B. MATLAB Simulation Results 5

Rotor speed (rpm)

0
a) For TD = 0 Nm, Fig.5 and Fig. 6 shows the relevant -5
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

waveforms.
Power (W)
1000
0
-1000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Time(seconds)

Fig. 7. Waveforms showing torques, speed and power transfer capability

c) For TD = 2 Nm, Fig.8 shows the relevant waveforms.

DC Torque (Nm)
5
0
-5
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Tem_AC (Nm)
10
0
-10
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Rotor speed (rpm)

10
0
-10
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Power (W)
2000
0
-2000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Fig. 5. Voltage and current waveforms of stator and rotor of VFT. Time(seconds)

Fig. 8. Waveforms showing torques, speed and power transfer capability

 d) For TD = 3 Nm, Fig.9 shows the relevant waveforms. When the applied torque is in opposite direction then power
transmission direction reverses as shown in Figs. 12-16.
DC Torque (Nm)
g) For TD = - 1 Nm, Fig.7 shows the relevant waveforms.
5
0
-5
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 DC Torque (Nm)
2
0
Tem_AC (Nm) -2
10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

0
-10
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Tem_AC (Nm)
5
0

Rotor speed (rpm) -5

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
20
0
-20
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Rotor speed (rpm)
5
0

Power (W) -5
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
2000
0
-2000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Power (W)
Time(seconds) 1000
500
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Time(seconds)

Fig. 9. Waveforms showing torques, speed and power transfer capability

e) For TD = 4 Nm, Fig.9 shows the relevant waveforms.
Fig. 12. Waveforms showing torques, speed and power transfer capability

10
DC Torque (Nm) h) For TD = - 2 Nm, Fig.8 shows the relevant waveforms.
5
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
DC Torque (Nm)
5
0
Tem_AC (Nm) -5
20 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

0
-20
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Tem_AC (Nm)
10
0
-10
Rotor speed (rpm) 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
20
0
Rotor speed (rpm)
-20 10
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
0
-10
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Power (W)
5000
0 Power (W)
2000
-5000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 1000
Time(seconds) 0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Time(seconds)

Fig. 10. Waveforms showing torques, speed and power transfer capability
f) For TD = 5 Nm, Fig.9 shows the relevant waveforms. Fig. 13. Waveforms showing torques, speed and power transfer capability

i) For TD = - 3 Nm, Fig.9 shows the relevant waveforms.

DC Torque (Nm)
10
5
DC Torque (Nm)
0 5
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
0
-5
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Tem_AC (Nm)
20
Tem_AC (Nm)
0 10

-20 0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
-10
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Rotor speed (rpm)

Rotor speed (rpm)
50 20
0 0
-50 -20
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Power (W)
Power (W) 2000
5000 1000
0 0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
-5000 Time(seconds)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Time(seconds)

Fig. 11. Waveforms showing torques, speed and power transfer capability Fig. 14. Waveforms showing torques, speed and power transfer capability
 j) For TD = - 4 Nm, Fig.9 shows the relevant waveforms. V. CONCLUSION
From the simulated result it is evident that power
10
DC Torque (Nm)
transmission is directly proportional to the applied torque.
0
-10
Moreover, both the magnitude and direction of the power
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
transmission through VFT, are controllable by the torque and
20
Tem_AC (Nm) speed of the rotor. Hence VFT technology provides an option
-20
0 for achieving real power transmission or power flow control
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
in-between two or more power systems. The model developed
Rotor speed (rpm)
is successfully used to demonstrate the power handling
20
0 capability of the VFT. The direction and the magnitude of
-20
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 power transmission control are achieved. The voltage, current,
torque and speed plots are also obtained. Thus, the VFT
Power (W)
4000
2000
concept discussed and its advantages are verified by
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 simulation results. It has distinct advantages in terms of
Time(seconds)
controllability over conventional phase angle regulating
transformers and does not inherently produce harmonics in
Fig. 15. Waveforms showing torques, speed and power transfer capability case of many HVDC and FACTS technologies.
k) For TD = - 5 Nm, Fig.9 shows the relevant waveforms.
VI. REFERENCES
Periodicals:
DC Torque (Nm)
10 [1] Arezki Merkhouf, Pierre Doyon and Sanjoy Upadhyay, “Variable
0 Frequency Transformer—Concept and Electromagnetic Design
-10 Evaluation,” IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion, vol. 23, no. 4,
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
December 2008, pp. 989-996.
Tem_AC (Nm)
20 Books:
0 [2] N. G. Hingorani and L. Gyugyi, “Understanding FACTS: Concepts and
-20
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Technology of Flexible AC Transmission Systems,” IEEE Press/Standard
Publishers Distributors, Delhi, 2001.
Rotor speed (rpm)
50 Papers from Conference Proceedings (Published):
0
[3] J. J. Marczewski, “VFT Applications Between Grid Control Areas,”
-50
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 IEEE PES General Meeting, Tampa, FL, June 2007, pp. 1-4.
[4] E. Larsen, R. Piwko, D. McLaren, D. McNabb, M. Granger, M.
Power (W) Dusseault, L-P. Rollin, J. Primeau, "Variable Frequency Transformer -
4000 A New Alternative for Asynchronous Power Transfer," Canada Power,
2000
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, September 28-30,2004.
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 [5] P. Doyon, D. McLaren, M. White, Y .Li, P. Truman, E. Larsen, C.
Wegner, E. Pratico, R. Piwko, "Development of a 100 MW Variable
Time(seconds) Frequency Transformer," Canada Power, Toronto, Ontario, Canada,
September 28-30, 2004.
Fig. 16. Waveforms showing torques, speed and power transfer capability [6] M. Dusseault, J. M. Gagnon, D. Galibois, M. Granger, D. McNabb, D.
Nadeau, J. Primeau, S. Fiset, E. Larsen, G. Drobniak, I. McIntyre, E.
The power transferred with the applied torque achieved is Pratico, C. Wegner, "First VFT Application and Commissioning,"
Canada Power, Toronto, Ontario, CANADA, September 28-30, 2004.
shown in Fig. 17.
Dissertations:
[7] M. Irshad, “Development of Flexible Asynchronous AC Link (FASAL)
Systems,” M.Tech. dissertation, Dept. Electrical Eng., Aligarh Muslim
University, Aligarh, India, pg 29-35, 2010.

VII. BIOGRAPHIES
Farhad Ilahi Bakhsh received his B.Tech in Electrical Eng. from Aligarh
Muslim University, Aligarh, India, in 2010. Currently he is
pursuing Masters in Power System and Drives from
Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India. His research
interests include Power Systems, Drives and renewable
energy systems.

Mohammad Irshad received his B.Tech in Electrical Eng.

from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India, in 2008 &
Masters in Power System & Drives from Aligarh Muslim
University, Aligarh, India, in 2010. His research interests
include analysis, design, system modeling & simulation of
Power System and Drives.
Fig. 17. The power transferred with the applied torque.
 Dr. M.S. Jamil Asghar received his graduation, post
graduation, and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering
from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India, where he
is currently working as Professor since 1999. He is also in
charge of UGC (Govt. of India) sponsored centre of
renewable energy in the Department of Electrical
Engineering. He is Member of IEEE since 1994 and fellow of IETE (India).
He has authored a book “Power Electronics”, PHI learning. His areas of
interests are Power Electronics, Drives, Electrical Machines and renewable
energy system.