Comparative Study of Two Different Converters with its Controller for Grid Connected WECS with PMSG

Abstract

Wind is a source for generating clean and economical electrical energy with a proper harnessing mechanism. For a wind energy conversion system (WECS), maximum power extraction with optimum power quality is required. In this article, the grid power quality is enhanced, using a multilevel inverter which provides smoother and pure sinusoidal waves as compared to two-level inverter by decreasing total harmonic distortion (THD) in WECS with a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG). Also, a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm is based on an optimal torque controller, employed to extract more power. In this study, a WECS with a PMSG connected to the local linear resistive load and grid is considered for simulation. A multilevel inverter grid interface is controlled by in phase disposition pulse width modulation (IPD – PWM). The multilevel inverter with MPPT has been acknowledged as superior to a normal two-level inverter without MPPT Controller. Simulation results as observed for fixed and variable wind speed including MPPT demonstrate benefits of the proposed method.