Design of a control scheme for a maximum power extraction in low power wind turbine-generator system

This document presents the modeling of a wind turbine-generator system and developing a control scheme for maximum power extraction. The system comprises a low-power variable speed wind rotor coupled to a squirrel cage induction generator through gearbox. The generator delivers electrical energy to a DC load through a PWM three phase rectifier which control variables are duty cycle and the fundamental frequency of the modulated signal. The control scheme maintains constant relationship voltage/frequency in the stator of the generator to operate the machine with constant air gap flow at its nominal value, thereby decreasing electrical losses in the circuit of the stator and rotor. The controller is based on MPPT algorithms for determining the operating point the system and achieve the proper mechanical speed shaft. The performance is evaluated through simulations in MatlabRTM/simulink, and presents this type of control as a good alternative for handling low-power wind turbine-generator systems effectively and efficiently.