A Reduced Cost Wind Energy Conversion System Based on Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator with a Parallel Connected AC-DC Buck-Boost Converter

Abstract

This paper presents a variable speed Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS) using a back-to-back converter. The current drawn from the generator is sinusoidal with unity power factor where the introduced buck-boost converter is operating in the discontinuous conduction mode. A three-phase Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator (PMSG) is connected to three parallel single phase ac-dc cascaded buck-boost converters, to minimize the voltage stress over the converter's switches. For optimal operation, Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) is used to regulate the speed and currents of the PMSG by controlling the duty-ratio of the proposed ac-dc buck-boost converters. Moreover, a Low Voltage Ride-Through (LVRT) strategy is integrated with the proposed scheme. PSCAD/EMTDC simulation results are provided to assess the steady state and dynamic performance of the proposed WECS under different operating conditions.