Chapter 6

Clarke and Park Transformation

Chapter at a Glance
This chapter presents a brief idea of Clarke and Park transformations in which phase
currents and voltages are expressed in terms of current and voltages space vectors. The
space vectors are then represented in stationaiy reference frame. Then general rotating
frame of reference has been introduced. The rotating frame of reference is then described in
terms of d and q axes. The space vector is then expressed with respect to d-q reference
frame. Clarke, Park and Inverse Park transformations have been described.
Clarke and Park Transformation Chapter 6

6.1 Introduction
Clarke and Park transformation are used in high performance architectures in three phase
power system analysis. Current and voltage are represented in terms of space vector which
is represented in a stationary reference frame. A general rotating reference frame has then
been introduced. This frame is described by d and q axes Clarke, Park and Inverse Park
transformations have been described. Through the use of the Clarke transformation, the real
and imaginary currents can be identified. The Park transformation is used to realize the
transformation of those real and imaginary currents from the stationary to the rotating
reference frame.

6.2. Current Space Vector

Let, iR, ir and iB are the instantaneous balanced three-phase currents. Then,

Ir hr hi ~ ® (6.1)

Current space vector can be represented in terms of phase currents as

(6.2)

where, a is an operator described earlier and k = Transformation constant. Figure 6.1 shows
space current vector and its projection.

Phase b

Fig. 6.1 Current space vector and its projection

 Elecfrlc Power Qualify In Power System, Ph. D. (Tech) Thesis. Department of Applied Physics. C.U.. 2009

63 Stationary Reference Frame

The space vector defined by (6.2) can be expressed utilizing two-axis theory. The real part
of the space vector is equal to the instantaneous value of the direct-axis current component,
4, and imaginary part is equal to the quadrature-axis current component, ip. This is shown in

Thus, the current space vector, in the stationary reference frame can be expressed as:

I = (ia+ip) (6.3)

In symmetrical 3-phase machines, the direct and quadrature axis currents ia and ip
are fictitious quadrature-phase (2-phase) current components, which are related to the actual
3-phase currents as

ia (6.4)

(6-5)

In matrix form, the stator current in the stationary reference frame in terms of three phase
currents can be written as

£
198
Clarke and Park Transformation Chapter 6

r i 1 " r
-, - i — !r

OJlbO
A 2
=kx X iy (6.6)
Jfi.
o
|
Jb _
L 2 2 _

If the three-phase system is symmetrical

lR +lY +th “ 0 (6.7)

Then,
laa = k\^R-\h (6.8)

The recommended value of k is

(6.9)
3

Thus, transformations from a 3-phase (R, Y, B) to a 2-phase (a, (5) system is

commonly known as Clarke transformation. Thus, (6.6) can be written as
1 1
2 2 2
=—x (6.10)
3 s Vs
0
9 2
The transformation matrix is known as Clarke matrix or Clarke transformation
matrix and the plane ((X,j3 ) is known as Clarke plane. So,
h
■ \Clarke Matrix ]x (6.11)
P.

where,

21,
'
1 —
[<Clarke Matrix] = — x 2 9
(6.12)
x/3 A
0
2 2 .

199
 Electric Power Quality in Power System, Ph. D. (Tech) Thesis. Department of Applied Physics, C.U., 2009

6,4 General Rotating Reference Frame

Besides the stationary reference frame attached to the stator, current space vector equations
can be formulated in a general reference frame which rotates at a general speed ©G as shown
in Fig. 6.3.

Fig 6.3 General rotating frame of reference

If a general reference frame is used, with direct and quadrature axes x, y rotating at a general
instantaneous speed, coG = dOG/d/, as shown in Fig. 6.3, where 0G is the angle between the
direct axis of the stationary reference frame (a) attached to the real axis (x) of the general
reference frame, then, the current space vector in general reference frame can be written as

6.5 d-q Rotating Reference Frame

Let us now covert x and y axes into d and q axes. Assume <// be a vector along d-axis as
shown in Fig. 6.4

If 200 1i S|-
1 J
Clarke and Park Transformation Chapter 6

Fig. 6.4 d-q rotating frame of reference

In (a,f3) plane,

V'=V/a +'/'/} (6.14)

In {d,q) plane,
¥ = ¥d + ¥q (6.15)

Angle between («,/?) and (d,q) is 0. Then

sin# = (6.16)
¥d

cos 6 = (6.17)
Va

The following transformations are involved due to rotation of orthogonal d-q system
a. a-p to d-q: Park transformation
b. d-q to a~P: Inverse Park transformation
Transformation from (<2,/?)to (d,q) is done by

(f cos 0 sin# a
X
-sin# COS0
A
d a
or, \Park Matrix]x (6 19)
q A
201
 d

Electric Power Quality in Power System, Ph. D. (Tech) Thesis. Department of Applied Physics, C.U., 2009

where,
r f cos # sin#
[Park Matrix] = (6.20)
[_-sin# cos #
Transformation from {d,q) to [a,/3) is done by

a cos # -sin#
(6.21)
A sin# cos#
or,
a
(6.22)
A
-sin#
w iere. [inversePark Matrix] = (6.23)
cos#

6.6 Transformation Matrices

The transformations described in previous sections can be summarized in general form as
R
a Y (6.24)
\CIarke Matrix ]x
? B

a
= [Park Matnx]x (5.25)
A
~R
= [Park Matrix]x [ClarkeMatrix]x Y (6.26)
B
The transformation between R-Y-B, Clarke plane and Park plane is shown by a block
diagram in Fig. 6.5 These transformations can be applied both for phase currents and phase
voltages. First consider phase currents
CL with respect to all frames of reference as shown in
Fig. 6.6. cos#
sin#

■[ 202
Clarke and Park Transformation Chapter 6

Fig. 6.6 R-Y-B, («,/?) and {d,q) current reference frames

Currents in Clarke plane can be obtained from phase currents as follows

M = [Clarke Matrix}*KiY (6.27)

lpJ i
\Jb J

Currents in Park plane can be obtained from Clarke plane currents as follows
if %
t 203 r
k if
 Electric Power Quality in Power System, Ph. D (Tech) Thesis, Department of Applied Physics. C.U., 2009

■ [Park Ma/ra]x (6.28)

Now, consider phase voltages with respect to all frames of reference as shown in Fig. 6.7.

Fig. 6.7 R-Y-B, (or./?) and (d,q)voltage reference frames

Voltages in Clarke plane can be obtained from phase voltages as follows

= \Clarke Matrix]x (6.29)

Voltages in Park plane can be obtained from Clarke plane voltages as follows

= [/’ark Malrix\ x (6,30)

6.7 Discussion
From the above sections, it is seen that :hc voltage and current in a power system can be
converted to a stationary reference frame and also to a rotating reference frame using Clarke
transformation and Park transformation respectively. Applications of these transformations
have specific advantages which are shown in the following chapters.

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