Power curve tracking in the presence of a tip speed constraint

• Published in: Renewable energy 2012-04, Vol.40 (1), p.1-12
• Main Authors: Bottasso, C.L., Croce, A., Nam, Y., Riboldi, C.E.D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Control; Control laws; Controllers; emissions; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; issues and policy; Laws; Natural energy; Noise; Policies; Power curve; renewable energy sources; Schedules; Tip speed; torque; Tracking; Variable speed wind turbine; Wind energy; Wind power generation; wind speed; wind turbines
• ISSN: 0960-1481; 1879-0682
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2011.07.045

This paper considers the problem of power regulation for a variable speed wind turbine in the presence of a blade tip speed constraint, for example to limit noise emissions. The main contribution of the paper is the formulation of a policy for the regulation of the machine in the transition region between the classical regions II and III that accommodates the tip speed constraint, and the derivation of associated wind schedules for the rotor speed, blade pitch and aerodynamic torque. To exemplify the possible use of such wind schedules in the design of control laws, model-based controllers are formulated in this paper that are capable of performing power curve tracking throughout all wind speeds, in contrast with commonly adopted approaches that use switching controllers to cover the various operating regimes of the machine. The proposed regulation policies and control laws are demonstrated in a high fidelity simulation environment for a representative 3 MW machine. ► Power optimization in the presence of a rotor speed constraint. ► Smooth transition between operating regions of controller. ► No switching logics. ► Wind-driven schedules, implemented through a wind observer.