Design, implementation, and experimental validation of a new low-cost sensorless wind turbine emulator: Applications for small-scale turbines

Abstract

Research and investigation into renewable energy sources is being sparked by the rapidly rising need for electricity, higher costs of fossil fuels, and increasing worries about the environment. Recent years have seen a tremendous increase in the use of wind energy (WE). In-depth study has been done to effectively produce power from WE. Nevertheless, it is exceedingly challenging and dangerous to set up wind turbines (WTs) for research and teaching uses due to constraints like space and upkeep. Numerous benefits come with a lab-scale WT emulator (WTE), such as freedom from space restrictions, an improved level of control, and independence from existing weather conditions. The design and execution of a low-power, lab-scale WTE are the focus of this study. The investigated experimental configuration is intended to precisely mimic the mechanical behavior of a real WT. Aerodynamics, blades, slow shafts, gearboxes, and controller elements, for example, are modeled in MATLAB/Simulink before they are assembled and implemented on a dSPACE 1104 board. A DC motor running under buck converter control is used to substitute the quick shaft. The WTE’s functionality is evaluated in various wind speed conditions. The findings of comparing the WTE’s dynamics with those offered by the manufacturer amply show the efficacy of the proposed WTE and its capacity to take the position of an actual WT. This paper will be a useful resource for investigators in helping them select the best WTE approach for their purposes.