Condition Monitoring and Fault Diagnosis in Wind Energy Conversion Systems: A Review

International audienceThere is a constant need for the reduction of operational and maintenance costs of Wind Energy Conversion Systems (WECS). The most efficient way of reducing these costs would be to continuously monitor the condition of these systems. This allows for early detection of the degeneration of the generator health, facilitating a proactive response, minimizing downtime, and maximizing productivity. Wind generators are also inaccessible since they are situated on extremely high towers, which are normally 20 m or greater in height. There are also plans to increase the number of offshore sites increasing the need for a remote means of WECS monitoring that eliminates some of the difficulties faced due to accessibility problems. Therefore and due to the importance of condition monitoring and fault diagnosis in WECS (blades, drive trains, and generators); and keeping in mind the need for future research, this paper is intended as a tutorial overview based on a review of the state of the art, describing different type of faults, their generated signatures, and their diagnostic schemes

A brief status on condition monitoring and fault diagnosis in wind energy conversion systems

International audienceThere is a constant need for the reduction of operational and maintenance costs of Wind Energy Conversion Systems (WECSs). The most efficient way of reducing these costs would be to continuously monitor the condition of these systems. This allows for early detection of the degeneration of the generator health, facilitating a proactive response, minimizing downtime, andmaximizing productivity. Wind generators are also inaccessible since they are situated on extremely high towers, which are normally 20 mor more in height. There are also plans to increase the number of offshore sites increasing the need for a remote means of WECS monitoring that eliminates some of the difficulties faced due to accessibility problems. Therefore and due to the importance of conditionmonitoring and fault diagnosis in WECS (blades, drive trains, and generators), and keeping in mind the need for future research, this paper is intended as a brief status describing different types of faults, their generated signatures, and their diagnostic schemes

The State of the Art of Generators for Wind Energy Conversion Systems

International audienceWind Energy Conversion Systems (WECS) have become a focal point in the research of renewable energy sources. This paper provides then a comparative study of past and present generator technologies used in WECS. This study is based on an exhaustive review of the state of the art and on an effective comparison of the performances of the four main topologies that are permanent magnet generators, synchronous generators, induction generators and doubly-fed induction generators. The different generator-WECS schemes are compared on the basis of topology, cost, efficiency, power consumption and control complexity. Moreover, attempts are made to highlight future issues so as to index some emerging solutions

The State of the Art of Generators for Wind Energy Conversion Systems

International audienceWind Energy Conversion Systems (WECS) have become a focal point in the research of renewable energy sources. This paper provides then a comparative study of past and present generator technologies used in WECS. This study is based on an exhaustive review of the state of the art and on an effective comparison of the performances of the four main topologies that are permanent magnet generators, synchronous generators, induction generators and doubly-fed induction generators. The different generator-WECS schemes are compared on the basis of topology, cost, efficiency, power consumption and control complexity. Moreover, attempts are made to highlight future issues so as to index some emerging solutions

High gain adaptive observer design for sensorless state and parameter estimation of induction motors

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