CART3 Field Tests for Wind Turbine Region-2 Operation With Extremum Seeking Controllers

Abstract

For wind turbines operating in below-rated wind-speed conditions (Region 2), the primary objective is to maximize energy capture. This brief presents the results of a comprehensive field-test evaluation of extremum seeking control (ESC) for Region 2. The test has been conducted on the 600-kW CART3 facility at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The ESC algorithm tested uses feedback of the rotor power only to control the torque gain and/or blade pitch angle for maximum power production. The results show that ESC control increases the energy capture by 8%–12% relative to a baseline controller.