A maximum power point tracking control method suitable for compact wind power generators with the passive self‐pitch‐controlled blade structure

Abstract

AbstractThis paper describes a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control method for propeller‐type compact wind power generators with passive self‐pitch‐controlled blades, which quickly makes the output current and voltage converge on the maximum power point based on wind speeds detected from an anemometer. The voltage and current output from these wind power generators vary with wind speeds at locations such as the roofs of buildings. Transient characteristics of the voltage output from compact wind power generators have two modes because of the self‐pitch‐controlled blades: mode I in which the output voltage hardly increases and mode II in which it rapidly increases. Thus, in order to acquire the generated power effectively, irrespective of how the wind speeds may change, a method to perform the MPPT control while searching for mode II is needed. Thus, by judging the mode from the change of the sign of the time differential of the voltage deviation between sampling times, the MPPT control method proposed here makes the output current converge on the maximum point using relationships between the maximum power and optimal current which give the maximum power and the wind speed. Effectiveness of the proposed MPPT control method is verified through simulations and experiments using a wind tunnel. IEEJ Trans 2010 DOI: 10.1002/tee.20609