Performance Evaluation of Grid-Connected Wind Turbine Generators

Abstract

The risk of oscillation of grid-connected wind turbine generators (WTGs) is well known, making it all the more important to understand the characteristics of different WTGs and analyze their performance so that the problems’ causes are identified and resolved. While many studies have evaluated the performance of grid-connected WTGs, most lack clarity and precision in the modeling and simulation techniques used. Moreover, most of the literature focuses on a single mode of operation of WTGs to analyze their performances. Therefore, this paper updates the literature by considering the different operating conditions for WTGs. Using MATLAB/SIMULINK it expands the evaluation to the full range of vulnerabilities of WTGs: from the wind turbine to grid connection. A network representing grid-connected squirrel-cage induction generator (SCIG) and doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) wind turbines are selected for simulation. The performances of SCIG and DFIG wind turbines are evaluated in terms of their energy generation capacity during constant rated wind speed, variable wind speed, and ability of fault-ride through during dynamic system transient operating conditions. The simulation results show the performance of DFIG is better than SCIG in terms of its energy generation capacity during variable wind speed conditions and active and reactive power control capability during steady-state and transient operating conditions. As a result, DFIG wind turbine is more suitable for large-scale wind power plants connected to weak utility grid applications than SCIG.