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Wind turbine generators in a windfarm are connected by underground cables. Lightning sometimes strikes a nacelle or a blade. Lightning overvoltages due to a direct lightning strike to the system cause damages in the underground cable. Many parameters should be investigated to establish a rational lightning protection design for wind power generation system. Numerical simulation is a useful method to discuss the influence of the parameters on the lightning overvoltages. This paper uses an Electro-Magnetic Transients Program for the lightning surge analysis. This paper discusses the influence of grounding method of metallic sheath of the cable and grounding resistance on the lightning overvoltages for the direct lightning strike to the generation system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the amount of distributed generators in the power grid has increased. Most of these distributed generators are renewable energy facilities using wind turbine generators or photovoltaic power systems. The increase in distributed generators is mostly due to environmental issues, growing concern of resource depletion, and economic benefits for residents and homeowners. Along with the increase in distributed generators, all-electric apartment buildings and residential homes with electric vehicles are on the rise. This trend is beneficial for both the environment and the residents; however, the fluctuating power from renewable energy sources and unstable loads causes fluctuations in grid frequency and distributed voltage which become problematic. This paper presents a methodology to control system frequency and distributed voltage using distributed controllable loads such as the heat pump water heater (HP) and large capacity batteries such as those of the electric vehicle (EV). By applying a power consumption controller using decentralized control for heat pump water heaters and droop characteristics for batteries, fluctuations of grid frequency and voltage are suppressed to a desired value. In order to verify the effectiveness of the proposed system, MATLAB/Simulink is used for simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the problems of global warming and depletion of energy resource, renewable energy systems such as wind generation are getting attention. However, wind power fluctuates due to variation of wind speed, and it is difficult to perfectly forecast wind power. This paper describes a method to use power forecast data of wind turbine generators considering wind power forecast error for optimal operation. The purpose in this paper is to smooth the output power fluctuation of a wind farm and to obtain more beneficial electrical power for selling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with controlling the output power smoothing of a wind energy conversion systems (WECS) by using permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG). It uses the inertia control of the wind turbine and DC-link voltage control. The PMSG is connected to the grid through a generator-side converter and a grid-side inverter based on AC-DC-AC methods. The generator-side converter is used to control the torque of the PMSG while the grid-side inverter is used to control DC-Link voltage and grid voltage. Fuzzy logic is implemented to determine the torque command by using inertia of wind turbine. The inputs of the fuzzy logic are given by the operating point of the rotational speed of the PMSG and the difference between the wind turbine torque and the generator torque. From the proposed method, the generator torque is smoothed and kinetic energy generated by the inertia of the wind turbine is used to smooth the power fluctuations of PMSG. Also, a stable operation of WECS is achieved during the system fault by using the chopper circuit in the DC-link circuit. The output power smoothing is achieved with stability and low cost. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by the numerical simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the operation under fault and protection of multi DC smart grids connected to the DC transmission line. The smart grid consists of wind turbine and photovoltaic generators, controllable loads, generator side and grid side inverters. The voltage stability of the DC bus voltage is attained by applying the power consumption control of controllable loads, the power control of grid connected converter and power control of renewable plants. On the other hand, the fault protection for short-circuit and low resistance ground fault at the DC transmission line was sighted. Simulation results based on PSIM are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The output power fluctuation of such renewable energy power plants as a wind-turbine generator and a photovoltaic system results in frequency deviation and terminal voltage fluctuation. Furthermore, these power fluctuations also affect the turbine shafting of diesel generator and gas-turbine generators, which are the main power generation systems in isolated islands. This article presents a control strategy that achieves torsional torque suppression and power system stabilization. Since the measurement of torsional torque is difficult technically, and there is uncertainty in mechanical constants of the shaft torsional system, the torsional torque is estimated by using a linear quadratic regulator observer with a parameter identification system. The simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed control system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an output power smoothing method by a simple coordinated control of DC-link voltage and pitch angle of a wind energy conversion system (WECS) with a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG). The WECS adopts an AC-DC-AC converter system with voltage-source converters (VSC). The DC-link voltage command is determined according to output power fluctuations of the PMSG. The output power fluctuationsin low- and high-frequency domains are smoothed by the pitch angle control of the WECS, and the DC-link voltage control, respectively. By using the proposed method, the wind turbine blade stress is mitigated as the pitch action in high-frequency domain is reduced. In addition, the DC-link capacitor size is reduced without the charge/discharge action in low-frequency domain. A chopper circuit is used in the DC-link circuit for stable operation of the WECS under-line fault. Effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by the numerical simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simulation has become the most important technique used today for evaluation of engineering solutions, and modeling plays a crucial part in the design of intelligent control paradigms for complex dynamic structures. For the analysis of a megawatt-class wind-energy conversion system (WECS), this research adopts the \cal H\infty control theory in designing an advanced control paradigm that accomplishes the dual purpose of energy capture optimization, as well as power train cyclic load alleviation by mitigating against wind-speed fluctuations. This work is presented in two parts: The first details the modeling of the subsystems of WECS and introduces the multiobjective \cal H\infty control concept, and the second deals with the implementation of the control paradigm. Presented herein is a modeling approach of individual subsystems as a basis for devising the unified control strategy for a 2-MW grid-connected pitch-regulated variable-speed WECS that incorporates a doubly fed induction generator. The credibility of the archetype, to establish the argument that the models produce sound insights and comparable results to data from the real system, is ascertained via validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The control of wind-energy conversion systems (WECSs) is still a challenging task for design engineers. Despite being ubiquitous in the wind industry, the performance of classical proportional–integral–derivative controllers is not ideal, and they require additional notch filters to handle turbine nonlinearity. This has triggered interest toward advanced control concepts that are multiobjective and multivariable. With optimality, feedback, and robustness being prerequisites in developing control policies that guarantee high-integrity and fault-tolerant control systems, \cal H\infty control theory has become a standard design method of choice over the past two decades and is gaining prominence in industrial (and WECS) control applications. Based on the linear matrix inequality approach, this paper presents a comprehensive and systematic way of applying the \cal H\infty control design algorithm for automatically gain-scheduling the linear-parameter-varying turbine plant along parameter trajectories. Control seeks to regulate both power and voltage via a synthesis of two controllers, namely, pitch and generator torque, respectively, for a megawatt-class WECS. Digital simulations executed in a MATLAB/Simulink environment ascertain that the control paradigm meets the objectives of optimizing power conversion throughout the operating envelope, as well as eliminating power oscillations through system damping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, there are several published reports on wind farms (WFs) for controlling output power by using pitch angle control. In addition, to reduce the adverse effects of frequency deviations, battery energy storage systems (BESSs) are introduced to small power systems. In this context, this paper presents a frequency control method by the WF and the BESS using load estimation. The load is estimated by a disturbance observer. The frequency deviations in low and high frequency domain are reduced by the WF using pitch angle control and battery charge/discharge, respectively. By using the proposed method, the reduction of the rated capacity of the BESS is possible. Furthermore, for the pitch angle control system of each WTG in the WF, generalized predictive control (GPC) is applied to achieve robust control performance. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by numerical simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing trend of connecting high penetrations of wind energy conversion systems (WECSs) to the transmission networks comes the challenge of updating the grid code for the connection of megawatt-class wind turbines. Starting with each WECS entity in the wind farm, the specifications would require the ability to complement some of the power system control services - voltage and frequency control - currently carried out by conventional synchronous generation. This paper investigates output power stability of a WECS ma highly fluctuating wind environment. Based on a performability model, a control strategy is devised for maximizing energy conversion in low to medium winds, and maintaining rated output in above rated winds while keeping torsional torque fluctuations to a minimum. Control is exercised via collective blade pitch control as well as generator torque control. The fundamental philosophy behind the proposed control strategy for the wind turbine coupled to an asynchronous doubly fed induction generator is general and can be easily extended to other WECS configurations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are concerns in regards to wind power generation as its output constantly, as well as considerably, varies. This article presents a control strategy for wind farms consisting of a wind turbine with variable pitch. In order to reduce output power fluctuation of wind farms, smoothed wind-farm output power command is determined by wind condition and fuzzy neural network. In addition, individual wind turbine generators are controlled by output power command derived from wind-farm output power command and coordination control for each wind turbine generator. Simulation results using an actual detailed model for wind-farm systems show the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Operation of variable speed wind turbine generator (WTG) in the above-rated region characterized by high turbulence intensities demands a trade-off between two performance metrics: maximization of energy harvested from the wind and minimization of damage caused by mechanical fatigue. This paper presents a learning adaptive controller for output power leveling and decrementing cyclic loads on the drive train. The proposed controller incorporates a linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) augmented by a neurocontroller (NC) and regulates rotational speed by specifying the demanded generator torque. Pitch control ensures rated power output. A second-order model and a stochastic wind field model are used in the analysis. The LQG is used as a basis upon which the performance of the proposed paradigm in the trade-off studies is assessed. Simulation results indicate the proposed control scheme effectively harmonizes the relation between rotor speed and the highly turbulent wind speed thereby regulating shaft moments and maintaining rated power. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The rapid expansion of wind power generation has brought problems involving lightning strikes to the fore. Many such incidents have damaged not only the wind turbine that was actually struck but also other turbines that were not, a phenomenon that has yet to be fully explained. In this paper, the authors present a case study using a wind farm model with multiple wind turbines connected to a power system. The aim is to clarify the influence of the grounding system on surge propagation from a wind turbine that has been struck to others which have not, during a winter lightning strike. Sensitivity analyses show that the surge propagated to nearby wind turbines can sometimes become large, depending on the conditions of the grounding system, and result in the burnout of surge arresters in turbines that have not been struck, especially during winter lightning strikes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Probabilistic paradigms for wind turbine controller design have been gaining attention. Motivation derives from the need to replace outdated empirical-based designs with more physically relevant models. This paper proposes an adaptive controller in the form of a linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) for control of a stall-regulated, variable speed wind turbine generator (WTG). In the control scheme, the strategy is twofold: maximization of energy captured from the wind and minimization of the damage caused by mechanical fatigue due to variation of torque peaks generated by wind gusts. Estimated aerodynamic torque and rotational speed are used to determine the most favorable control strategy to stabilize the plant at all operating points (OPs). The performance of the proposed controller is compared with the classical proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller. The LQG is seen to be significantly more efficient especially in the alleviation of high aerodynamic torque variations and hence mechanical stresses on the plant drive train. Simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Effective utilization of renewable energies such as wind energy instead of fossil fuels is desirable. Wind energy is not constant and windmill output is proportional to the cube of the wind speed, which causes the generated power of wind turbine generators (WTGs) to fluctuate. In order to reduce the output power fluctuation of wind farms, this paper presents an output power leveling control strategy for a wind farm based on both the average wind farm output power and the standard deviation of the wind farm output power, a cooperative control strategy for WTGs, and pitch angle control using a generalized predictive controller (GPC) in all WTG operating regions. Simulation results using an actual detailed model for wind farm systems show the effectiveness of the proposed method. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 158(4): 31– 41, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience. wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20448 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind energy is not constant and windmill output is proportional to the cube of wind speed, which causes the generated power of wind turbine generators (WTGs) to fluctuate. In order to reduce fluctuation, different methods are available to control the pitch angle of blades of windmill. In a previous work, we proposed the pitch angle control using minimum variance control, and output power leveling was achieved. However, it is a controlled output power for only rated wind speed region. This paper presents a control strategy based on average wind speed and standard deviation of wind speed and pitch angle control using a generalized predictive control in all operating regions for a WTG. The simulation results by using actual detailed model for wind power system show the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hybrid power system uses many wind turbine generators in isolated small islands. The output power of wind turbine generators is mostly fluctuating and has an effect on system frequency. In order to solve this problem, we propose a new power system using renewable energy in small, isolated islands. The system can supply high-quality power using an aqua electrolyzer, fuel cell, renewable energy; and diesel generator. The generated hydrogen by an aqua electrolyzer is used as fuel for a fuel cell. The simulation results are given to demonstrate the availability of the proposed system in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]