STM Journals Peer-reviewed research from Consortium e-Learning Network

Journal of Power Electronics and Power Systems

Maximum Power Point Tracking of a Variable Speed Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator Based Wind Energy Conversion System

  1. michael opare atakora
  2. Arbin Ebrahim
  3. Gregory Murphy

Abstract

Wind turbines produce maximum power at the optimal tip-speed ratio. Fixed speed wind turbines are inefficient because the turbine blades rotate at a specific mechanical speed irrespective of the prevailing wind speed. The system is therefore, not able to extract the maximum possible amount of power. In this work, a maximum power point tracking scheme for a variable-speed permanent magnet synchronous generator based wind energy conversion system is implemented in Matlab/Simulink. The control scheme is developed using the constant torque angle control method so that the extracted power follows the trajectory of the power-rotor speed characteristics curve of the turbine. Also a pitch angle control scheme is implemented to limit power extracted at wind speeds above rated.  Keywords: Maximum power point tracking (MPPT), permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG), constant torque angle control (CTAC)
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