Comparison of multiple stage braking circuits for wind driven generators

This paper presents multiple stage braking circuits for wind turbines with a permanent magnet synchronous generator. The system combines both passive converter circuit coupled to a resistive braking circuit. The second one is an over voltage protection when an emergency situation of no load is detected. The power converter control and braking are simulated and the output power/frequency graphics are derived. Three braking circuits are analyzed and compared. Design recommendations are formulated regarding the application of different topologies depending of the wind speed and the input assignment

Automated methodology for adjustment of component values in passive converter circuit for wind turbine generators

The current paper proposes an automated design approach for a previously developed passive converter circuits for wind turbine generators. This suggested approach allows to calculate the components for all passive converter circuits approved in European patent number PCT/EP2010/055637, where only minor changes in the source code of the mathematical and simulation software have to be made when different circuits are involved. An optimisation based on steepest descent method results in power/frequency (power/speed) curve that matches well the cubic dependence (Pwtmax~ω3) of the extracted power

Study of Novel Power Electronic Converters for Small Scale Wind Energy Conversion Systems

This chapter proposes a study of novel power electronic converters for small scale wind energy conversion systems. In this chapter major topologies of power electronic converters that used in wind energy converter systems have been analysed. Various topologies of DC/AC single stage converters such as high boost Z-source inverters (ZSI) have been investigated. New proposed schemes for inverters such as multilevel and Z-source inverters have been studied in this proposed chapter. Multilevel converters are categorized into three major groups according to their topologies which are diode clamped multilevel converters (DCM), cascade multilevel converters (CMC) with multiple isolated dc voltage sources and flying capacitor based multilevel converters (FCMC). Z-source inverters are divided to ZSI, qZSI and trans-ZSI types. Trans-ZSI is mostly used for high step-up single stage conversions

Design of DC-Link VSCF AC Electrical Power System for the Embraer 190/195 Aircraft

A proposed novel DC-Link VSCF AC-DC-AC electrical power system converter for Embraer 190/195 transport category airplane is presented. The proposed converter could replace the existing conventional system based on the CSCF IDGs. Several contemporary production airplanes already have VSCF as a major or backup source of electrical power. Problems existed with the older VSCF systems in the past; however, the switched power electronics and digital controllers have matured and can be now, in our opinion, safely integrated and replace existing constant-speed hydraulic transmissions powering CSCF AC generators. IGBT power transistors for medium-level power conversion and relatively fast efficient switching are used. Electric power generation, conversion, distribution, protection, and load management utilizing VSCF offers flexibility, redundancy, and reliability not available with a conventional CSCF IDG systems. The proposed DC-Link VSCF system for E190/195 delivers several levels of 3-ϕ AC and DC power, namely 330/270/28 VDC and 200/ 115/26 VAC utilizing 12-pulse rectifiers, Buck converters, and 3-ϕ 12-step inverters with D-Y, Y-Y, and Y-D 3-ϕ transformers. Conventional bipolar double-edge carrier-based pulse-width-modulation using three reference AC phase signals and up to 100 kHz triangular carriers are used in a manner to remove all even and many odd super-harmonics. Passive low-pass filters are used to remove higher harmonics. The RL AC loads are active in connection with the synchronous and induction AC motors and also include passive AC loads. The overall power factor exceeded 85%. Total harmonic distortions for voltages and currents are below 5%, thus satisfying the MIL-STD-704F and the IEEE Std. 519 power-quality standards, while avoiding the need for active filters. Several PI and PID controllers that regulate synchronous generator DC excitation and inverter banks were designed and tuned using the continuous–cycle tuning method to offer required performance and stability of the feedback loop. Mathworks’s SimulinkTM software was used for simulation of electrical components and circuits. Several critical scenarios of aircraft operations were simulated, such as go-around, to evaluate the transient behavior of the VSCF system

Wind energy harvester interface for sensor nodes

The research topic is developping a power converting interface for the novel FLEHAP wind energy harvester allowing the produced energy to be used for powering small wireless nodes. The harvester\u2019s electrical characteristics were studied and a strategy was developped to control and mainting a maximum power transfer. The electronic power converter interface was designed, containing an AC/DC Buck-Boost converter and controlled with a low power microcontroller. Different prototypes were developped that evolved by reducing the sources of power loss and rendering the system more efficient. The validation of the system was done through simulations in the COSMIC/DITEN lab using generated signals, and then follow-up experiments were conducted with a controllable wind tunnel in the DIFI department University of Genoa. The experiment results proved the functionality of the control algorithm as well as the efficiency that was ramped up by the hardware solutions that were implemented, and generally met the requirement to provide a power source for low-power sensor nodes

Modeling and Simulation of Protective Relay for Short Circuits in AC Micro-grids using Fuzzy Logic

The duo of high human appetite for electricity in the 21st century and high human population growth rate entail inadequacy of contemporary electric power protective systems for the emerging micro-grid. This thesis presents results of a research which seeks to propose a new model of protective device for short circuits in ac micro-grids. Response of the proposed relay is consistent with a reliable device. Consequently, a protective relay for short circuits in micro-grids is proposed

Short circuit modeling of wind turbine generators

Modeling of wind farms to determine their short circuit contribution in response to faults is a crucial part of system impact studies performed by power utilities. Short circuit calculations are necessary to determine protective relay settings, equipment ratings and to provide data for protection coordination. The plethora of different factors that influence the response of wind farms to short circuits makes short circuit modeling of wind farms an interesting, complex, and challenging task. Low voltage ride through (LVRT) requirements make it necessary for the latest generation of wind generators to be capable of providing reactive power support without disconnecting from the grid during and after voltage sags. If the wind generator must stay connected to the grid, a facility has to be provided to by-pass the high rotor current that occurs during voltage sags and prevent damage of the rotor side power electronic circuits. This is done through crowbar circuits which are of two types, namely active and passive crowbars, based on the power electronic device used in the crowbar triggering circuit. Power electronics-based converters and controls have become an integral part of wind generator systems like the Type 3 doubly fed induction generator based wind generators. The proprietary nature of the design of these power electronics makes it difficult to obtain the necessary information from the manufacturer to model them accurately. Also, the use of power electronic controllers has led to phenomena such as sub-synchronous control interactions (SSCI) in series compensated Type 3 wind farms which are characterized by non-fundamental frequency oscillations. SSCI affects fault current magnitude significantly and is a crucial factor that cannot be ignored while modeling series compensated Type 3 wind farms. These factors have led to disagreement and inconsistencies about which techniques are appropriate for short circuit modeling of wind farms. Fundamental frequency models like voltage behind transient reactance model are incapable of representing the majority of critical wind generator fault characteristics such as sub-synchronous interactions. The Detailed time domain models, though accurate, demand high levels of computation and modeling expertise. Voltage dependent current source modeling based on look up tables are not stand-alone models and provide only a black-box type of solution. The short circuit modeling methodology developed in this research work for representing a series compensated Type 3 wind farm is based on the generalized averaging theory, where the system variables are represented as time varying Fourier coefficients known as dynamic phasors. The modeling technique is also known as dynamic phasor modeling. The Type 3 wind generator has become the most popular type of wind generator, making it an ideal candidate for such a modeling method to be developed. The dynamic phasor model provides a generic model and achieves a middle ground between the conventional electromechanical models and the cumbersome electromagnetic time domain models. The essence of this scheme to model a periodically driven system, such as power converter circuits, is to retain only particular Fourier coefficients based on the behavior of interest of the system under study making it computationally efficient and inclusive of the required frequency components, even if non-fundamental in nature. The capability to model non-fundamental frequency components is critical for representing sub-synchronous interactions. A 450 MW Type 3 wind farm consisting of 150 generator units was modeled using the proposed approach. The method is shown to be highly accurate for representing faults at the point of interconnection of the wind farm to the grid for balanced and unbalanced faults as well as for non-fundamental frequency components present in fault currents during sub-synchronous interactions. Further, the model is shown to be accurate also for different degrees of transmission line compensation and different transformer configurations used in the test system

Converter fault diagnosis and post-fault operation of a doubly-fed induction generator for a wind turbine

Wind energy has become one of the most important alternative energy resources because of the global warming crisis. Wind turbines are often erected off-shore because of favourable wind conditions, requiring lower towers than on-shore. The doubly-fed induction generator is one of the most widely used generators with wind turbines. In such a wind turbine the power converters are less robust than the generator and other mechanical parts. If any switch failure occurs in the converters, the wind turbine may be seriously damaged and have to stop. Therefore, converter health monitoring and fault diagnosis are important to improve system reliability. Moreover, to avoid shutting down the wind turbine, converter fault diagnosis may permit a change in control strategy and/or reconfigure the power converters to permit post-fault operation. This research focuses on switch fault diagnosis and post-fault operation for the converters of the doubly-fed induction generator. The effects of an open-switch fault and a short-circuit switch fault are analysed. Several existing open-switch fault diagnosis methods are examined but are found to be unsuitable for the doubly-fed induction generator. The causes of false alarms with these methods are investigated. A proposed diagnosis method, with false alarm suppression, has the fault detection capability equivalent to the best of the existing methods, but improves system reliability. After any open-switch fault is detected, reconfiguration to a four-switch topology is activated to avoid shutting down the system. Short-circuit switch faults are also investigated. Possible methods to deal with this fault are discussed and demonstrated in simulation. Operating the doubly-fed induction generator as a squirrel cage generator with aerodynamic power control of turbine blades is suggested if this fault occurs in the machine-side converter, while constant dc voltage control is suitable for a short-circuit switch fault in the grid-side converter.Wind energy has become one of the most important alternative energy resources because of the global warming crisis. Wind turbines are often erected off-shore because of favourable wind conditions, requiring lower towers than on-shore. The doubly-fed induction generator is one of the most widely used generators with wind turbines. In such a wind turbine the power converters are less robust than the generator and other mechanical parts. If any switch failure occurs in the converters, the wind turbine may be seriously damaged and have to stop. Therefore, converter health monitoring and fault diagnosis are important to improve system reliability. Moreover, to avoid shutting down the wind turbine, converter fault diagnosis may permit a change in control strategy and/or reconfigure the power converters to permit post-fault operation. This research focuses on switch fault diagnosis and post-fault operation for the converters of the doubly-fed induction generator. The effects of an open-switch fault and a short-circuit switch fault are analysed. Several existing open-switch fault diagnosis methods are examined but are found to be unsuitable for the doubly-fed induction generator. The causes of false alarms with these methods are investigated. A proposed diagnosis method, with false alarm suppression, has the fault detection capability equivalent to the best of the existing methods, but improves system reliability. After any open-switch fault is detected, reconfiguration to a four-switch topology is activated to avoid shutting down the system. Short-circuit switch faults are also investigated. Possible methods to deal with this fault are discussed and demonstrated in simulation. Operating the doubly-fed induction generator as a squirrel cage generator with aerodynamic power control of turbine blades is suggested if this fault occurs in the machine-side converter, while constant dc voltage control is suitable for a short-circuit switch fault in the grid-side converter

Ancillary Services in Hybrid AC/DC Low Voltage Distribution Networks

In the last decade, distribution systems are experiencing a drastic transformation with the advent of new technologies. In fact, distribution networks are no longer passive systems, considering the current integration rates of new agents such as distributed generation, electrical vehicles and energy storage, which are greatly influencing the way these systems are operated. In addition, the intrinsic DC nature of these components, interfaced to the AC system through power electronics converters, is unlocking the possibility for new distribution topologies based on AC/DC networks. This paper analyzes the evolution of AC distribution systems, the advantages of AC/DC hybrid arrangements and the active role that the new distributed agents may play in the upcoming decarbonized paradigm by providing different ancillary services.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad ENE2017-84813-RUnión Europea (Programa Horizonte 2020) 76409