Simulation of Operating Characterristics of a Wind Energy Conversion System

Abstract

Tohoku Electric Power Company constructed a wind park composed of five 275kW windturbines (WT) at a cape TAPPI in AOMORI prefecture in 1991, and has begun an actual proof test from April 1992. A WT has a very unique point compared with other conventional electric power plants that the power of a WT is always fluctuating following the cube of wind speed and start-stop operation in very frequent. On the other hand, an induction generator is widely used for a WT, because it is very cost effective in manufacturing, maintenance and is very reliable. But the induction generator has a weak point producing high voltage fluctuation when connected into grid.
Utility company has an obligation to keep voltage fluctuation within an allowable value, so we have to examine the performance of a WT previously. If there is any ploblem, we must take a suitable conter-measure. In order to evaluate the wind generator performance, simulation seems to be the best way. Hence, we made simulations on transient and normal characteristic of a WT, and found the simulation corresponded with the measured results very well.