Sliding mode sensorless MPPT control of a wind generation system using a wind speed estimation

Abstract

This paper presents the implementation of a sensorless vector control scheme for a surface mounted Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator (PMSG)-based Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS). This sensorless strategy is based on a sliding mode observer and a minimum order observer, which are used for estimating the position and the speed of the PMSG, respectively. The proposed sensorless scheme does not take into account the start up region since a WECS does not generates energy at low and zero speed. In order to follow the Maximum Power Point (MPP), a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithm is implemented. This MPPT algorithm estimates the wind speed from electrical measurements and it takes advantage of the linear relation between the PMSG speed and the wind speed to follow the MPP point accurately. Simulations are performed in Matlab/Simulink™. Experimental results are obtained by using a wind turbine emulator which is basically a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) programmed to behave like a real wind turbine.