Low Voltage Ride-through in DFIG Wind Generators by Controlling the Rotor Current without Crowbars

doi:10.3390/en7020498

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Energies 2014, 7(2), 498-519; doi:10.3390/en7020498

Article

Low Voltage Ride-through in DFIG Wind Generators by Controlling the Rotor Current without Crowbars

Jaime Rodríguez Arribas^1,* , Adrián Fernández Rodríguez², Ángel Hermoso Muñoz¹ and Carlos Veganzones Nicolás¹

¹ Department of Electrical Engineering, ETS Ingenieros Industriales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Jose Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain ² Institute for Research in Technology, Pontifical Comillas University, Alberto Aguilera 23, 28015 Madrid, Spain

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 13 November 2013; in revised form: 17 January 2014 / Accepted: 20 January 2014 / Published: 23 January 2014

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wind Turbines 2014)

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Abstract: Among all the different types of electric wind generators, those that are based on doubly fed induction generators, or DFIG technology, are the most vulnerable to grid faults such as voltage sags. This paper proposes a new control strategy for this type of wind generator, that allows these devices to withstand the effects of a voltage sag while following the new requirements imposed by grid operators. This new control strategy makes the use of complementary devices such as crowbars unnecessary, as it greatly reduces the value of currents originated by the fault. This ensures less costly designs for the rotor systems as well as a more economic sizing of the necessary power electronics. The strategy described here uses an electric generator model based on space-phasor theory that provides a direct control over the position of the rotor magnetic flux. Controlling the rotor magnetic flux has a direct influence on the rest of the electrical variables enabling the machine to evolve to a desired work point during the transient imposed by the grid disturbance. Simulation studies have been carried out, as well as test bench trials, in order to prove the viability and functionality of the proposed control strategy.

Keywords: DFIG wind generators; low voltage ride through (LVRT) capability; voltage sag; voltage dip

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MDPI and ACS Style

Arribas, J.R.; Rodríguez, A.F.; Muñoz, Á.H.; Nicolás, C.V. Low Voltage Ride-through in DFIG Wind Generators by Controlling the Rotor Current without Crowbars. Energies 2014, 7, 498-519.

AMA Style

Arribas JR, Rodríguez AF, Muñoz ÁH, Nicolás CV. Low Voltage Ride-through in DFIG Wind Generators by Controlling the Rotor Current without Crowbars. Energies. 2014; 7(2):498-519.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Arribas, Jaime R.; Rodríguez, Adrián F.; Muñoz, Ángel H.; Nicolás, Carlos V. 2014. "Low Voltage Ride-through in DFIG Wind Generators by Controlling the Rotor Current without Crowbars." Energies 7, no. 2: 498-519.

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