Design and control of variable speed Wind Energy Conversion System employing PMBLDC generator

Abstract

This paper deals with the design, modeling and control of a variable speed Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS) consisting of a permanent magnet brushless DC (PMBLDC) generator, a rectifier, a push-pull converter and a voltage source inverter (VSI) and the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller. The proposed mechanical sensorless MPPT controller uses output voltage and current of the rectifier. The duty ratio of an isolated push-pull converter is controlled using a MPPT controller. The system is designed, modeled and its simulation is carried out in Matlab-Simulink environment for feeding an average consumer load of 1 kW, at 230 V, 50 Hz AC supply using a voltage source inverter (VSI). Simulated results are given to validate the performance of designed MPPT controller under varying wind speeds. The power quality at the output voltage across the loads is maintained using an output voltage controller, which regulates the output voltage under different types of consumer loads.