Maximum Peak Power Tracking-Based Control Algorithms with Stall Regulation for Optimal Wind Energy Capture

Abstract

This paper presents three control strategies for maximum peak power tracking (MPPT) based algorithm to optimize the captured wind energy. The first control strategy uses a predetermined peak torque-speed characteristic as a system command. The second strategy employs perturbation and observation (P&O) technique to determine the optimal operating points based on the slope of the power-rotational speed curve. The calculated torque references are used in conjunction with the fuzzy logic control in the third control strategy to derive the torque command. Stall regulation is employed to limit the output power of the wind generator. The MPPT- based algorithm with all three strategies was implemented on a low cost digital signal controller and was tested with a system consisting of a wind turbine controller and a wind turbine simulator. The experimental results confirm that all strategies can attain the maximum power for any wind speeds below-rated speed but with different control performances in terms of power fluctuation, rotational speed fluctuation and tracking time. The stall regulation was very effective in limiting the output power of the system at the wind speeds above-rated speed.