Utility-connected power electronic compensators in wind power applications

Abstract

Wind farm installations can often generate unique challenges and problems for developers, owners and wind turbine manufacturers, particularly as they consider issues relating to transmission access. Major concerns and challenges that they face are typically associated with voltage regulation, low voltage ride through, system stability and aspects of potential turbine damage and maintenance. Furthermore, in many countries the performance requirements are becoming stricter for wind turbines that are interconnected to the greater power grid.Today, wind generation makes up significant portions of many power grids and it is no longer possible or practical to view wind power as trivial or expendable. Tripping a wind farm in response to a nearby fault is now considered a double contingency, not an acceptable first step in correcting the problem. Power system operators' perception of wind farms has dramatically shifted to the point where wind farms are expected to have similar characteristics and capabilities as more conventional generation sources. Wind farms are expected to provide reactive power support, regulate system voltage, ride through transient events, and improve (or at least avoid degrading) the stability of the greater power grid.