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Wind and Solar Electrical Systems Overview

The document discusses variable speed generation schemes for wind turbines. It explains that constant speed generation cannot maximize power extraction from wind. Variable speed allows the turbine speed to vary proportionally with wind speed, keeping the tip speed ratio constant to extract maximum power. This can yield 20-30% more power than constant speed. Two variable speed control schemes are described: one regulates speed to maintain optimal tip speed ratio, while the second continuously tracks the maximum power point. The second scheme varies speed in small steps to evaluate the change in power with respect to speed and adjusts to the optimal speed.

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Rishabh Srivastav
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75 views2 pages

Wind and Solar Electrical Systems Overview

The document discusses variable speed generation schemes for wind turbines. It explains that constant speed generation cannot maximize power extraction from wind. Variable speed allows the turbine speed to vary proportionally with wind speed, keeping the tip speed ratio constant to extract maximum power. This can yield 20-30% more power than constant speed. Two variable speed control schemes are described: one regulates speed to maintain optimal tip speed ratio, while the second continuously tracks the maximum power point. The second scheme varies speed in small steps to evaluate the change in power with respect to speed and adjusts to the optimal speed.

Uploaded by

Rishabh Srivastav
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Wind and Solar based Electrical Systems Assignment

-Rishabh Srivastav (2016UIC3085)

Constant Speed Generation Scheme

The constant-speed generation scheme is necessary if the electrical system involves a grid-connected
synchronous generator. In the case of grid-connected squirrel cage induction generators, the allowable
range of speed variation is very small, requiring an almost constant rotational speed.

However, constant-speed generation system cannot maximize the extraction of the power contained in
wind. The power coefficient reaches a maximum at specific value of TSR for every type of wind turbine.
Therefore, to extract the maximum amount of power from the wind, the turbine should operate at a
constant TSR, which means that the rotational speed should be proportional to the wind speed. Hence
the extraction of maximum power requires a variable speed generation system with the speed control
aimed at keeping a constant TSR.

Such systems can yield 20-30% more power than constant speed generation system. With the
development of Induction generators and power electronic convertors, designers are favoring variable
speed generation systems.

Variable Speed Generation Scheme

The constant TSR region, which encompasses the largest range of wind speeds, is generally achieved by
regulating the mechanical power input through pitch control or the electrical power output by power
electronic control in many cases a combination of both is employed.

The control scheme generally takes two possible forms. In the first case, the value of the TSR for
maximum Cp is stored in microprocessor. The operating TSR is obtained from the values of the wind
speed and rotational speed. An error signal is generated whenever the operating TSR deviates from the
optimum TSR. If the current value of the TSR is greater than the optimum TSR the power electronic
converter increases the power output so that the rotational speed is reduced to the desired value. The
opposite action is performed if the optimal value exceeds the current TSR.

This scheme has few disadvantages. First, the wind speed measured in the neighborhood of wind
turbine is not a reliable indicator of V∞ because of the shadowing effects. Second, it is difficult to
determine the value of TSR for maximum C p. Third, this value changes during the lifetime of a wind
turbine due to changes in smoothness of the blade surface, necessitating alterations in the reference
setting.
A second control scheme is devised to continuously track the maximum power point (MPP) using the
property that the Cp versus TSR curve has a single smooth maximum point. This means that if we
operate at the maximum power point, small fluctuations in the rotational speed do not significantly
change the power output, i.e. the MPP is characterized by dP/dw=0. To implement this scheme, the
speed is varied in small steps, the power output is measured, and dp/dw is evaluated. If this ratio is
positive, more mechanical power can be obtained by increasing the speed.

Hence the electrical power output is decreased temporarily by power electronic control so that the
speed increases. This increases the mechanical power, and the electrical power output is again raised to
a higher value. The process continues until the optimum speed is reached, when mechanical power
becomes insensitive to speed fluctuations. When the wind speed changes this mechanism readjusts the
speed at the optimum value.

While controlling the rotational speed, it should be remembered that a large difference between
mechanical power and electrical power results in a large torque and hence, a large stress on the rotor
components (especially on the joints between the blades and the shaft). To avoid fatigue and failure, it is
necessary to limit the acceleration and deceleration rates to values dictated by the structural strength of
the mechanical parts.

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