An adaptive Elman neural network with C-PSO learning algorithm based pitch angle controller for DFIG based WECS

Abstract

Frequent variation in the wind flow affects the Wind Turbine (WT) to generate fluctuating output power and this can negatively impact the entire power network. This paper aims at modelling an Enhanced-Elman Neural Network (EENN) based pitch angle controller to mitigate the output power fluctuation in a grid connected Wind Energy Conversion System. The outstanding aspect of the proposed controller is that, they can smoothen the output power fluctuation, when the wind speed is above or below rated speed of the WT. The proposed EENN pitch controller is trained online using Gradient Descent (GD) algorithm and the network learning is carried out using Customized-Particle swarm optimization (C-PSO) algorithm. The C-PSO is adopted, in order to increase the learning capability of the training process by adjusting the networks learning rate. Further, the node connecting weights of the EENN is updated by means of GD algorithm using back-propagation methodology. The performance of the proposed controller is analysed using the simulation studies carried out in MATLAB /Simulink environment.