Total output power variation of several small wind turbines

Abstract

There is a concern that connection of several small wind turbines may cause severe voltage fluctuation and voltage flicker in low-voltage distribution lines due to their output power variations. In this study, output power variations of four 5-kW-class small wind turbine systems were measured with an interval of 0.1 s at a site in Wakkanai, Hokkaido, and their correlations and smoothing effect in the frequency range from [Formula: see text] to 5 Hz were analyzed and compared with those of five residential photovoltaic power systems. The results indicate that a smoothing effect occurs more in small wind turbines than in photovoltaic systems, because of lower correlation coefficients in lower frequency ([Formula: see text] Hz) components. Voltage flicker at the point of common coupling was also measured and it was confirmed that the impact of small wind turbines on voltage flicker is low enough at the site. In addition, the upper limits of the installation number and/or the system resistance are estimated theoretically using the measured flicker values.