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LOW VOLTAGE RIDE THROUGH CAPABILITY

ENHANCEMENT OF PMSG-BASED WIND TURBINE


Shuhui Dong, Heming Li ,Yi Wang
School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, North China Electric Power University, China
E-mail: dongshuhui@126.com

Keywords:
Wind
generation,
Permanent-magnet
synchronous generator (PMSG), Low voltage ride-through
(LVRT), Control Design, Voltage dip.

Abstract
This paper investigates the control and operation of
permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG)-based
wind generation systems employing the full-scale frequency
converter under network fault conditions. The factors
inducing the oscillations of DC-link voltage of the full-scale
frequency converter during grid voltage dips are analyzed. A
novel control strategy is proposed to suppresses the DC-link
voltage oscillations and enhance the low voltage ride-through
(LVRT) capability of PMSG-based wind turbine. The
generator-side converter is controlled to maintain a stable
DC-link voltage, while the grid-side converter is controlled to
provide a dynamic coordinated control for the active and
reactive power output according to the grid voltage amplitude
variations during grid faults. The simulation results
implemented in Matlab/Simulink show that the proposed
control strategy not only improves the stability of PMSG by
means of suppressing the DC-link voltage oscillation, but also
provides a dynamic reactive power support to restraint the
disturbance of the grid voltage.

1 Introduction
The significant increase of wind power over the last decade
has a serious influence on the security and stability of the
power system. Grid connection requirements have been
imposing stricter regulations on wind farms especially in
terms of low voltage ride-through (LVRT) and grid support
capabilities [1-2].In order to ensure the fulfilment of those
codes, it becomes crucial for the well-established wind
turbines to redesign an advanced wind turbine controller by
means of a reliable and economic reform scheme, which
makes wind turbines behave like conventional synchronous
generator during an abnormal voltage is detected, remaining
connected and supplying reactive power to secure a safe and
reliable grid operation during and after the abnormal voltage
has ended. The above redesign scheme will certainly present a
challenge to the well-established wind turbine technologies.
Variable speed wind turbines, equipped with multi-pole
permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) and fullscale frequency converter, have been proven to have more
excellent performances in the aspect of low voltage ride-

through during grid faults[3]-[4]. However, the key problem


achieving low voltage ride-through of PMSG-based wind
turbine is to maintain a stable DC-link voltage of the fullscale frequency converter [5]. The research schemes,
depending on keeping DC-link voltage stable to realize LVRT
of PMSG-based wind turbine, mainly include: installing
unloading circuit in DC-link side of the converter to consume
the surplus power [6]; installing energy storage device in DClink side, such as super capacitor, to quickly exchange active
power [7] -[8]; installing an auxiliary converter in parallel to
provide a bypass for overflowing power [9] -[10];. The above
schemes invariably need to install addition devices, which not
only increase the converter size and system cost but also
complicate the controller. Meanwhile, due to the reason that
the grid-side converter is under the limited current conditions
during grid faults, it does not provide large amounts of
reactive power to recover grid voltage. Furthermore, the
switchover of the grid-side converter between DC-link
voltage control and current limit control certainly results in
the DC-link voltage oscillation before and after the LVRT of
PMSG-based wind turbine.
The objective of this paper is to develop a coordinated
control strategy for the active and reactive power output of a
multi-pole PMSG wind turbine to enhance the LVRT and grid
support capabilities and stabilities under grid fault conditions.
The paper is organized as follows. Section 2 describes the
traditional control strategies of generator-side converter and
grid-side converter. Then the reason causing the DC-link
voltage oscillation is studied in Section 3. On the basis of
above analysis, Section 4 presents a novel control strategy
without installing any addition devices. Simulation results on
a 2MW PMSG-based wind generation system are provided in
Section 5 and finally Section 6 draws the conclusions.

2 Model and Control of PMSG Systems


A typical configuration of PMSG-based wind turbine is
illustrated in Figure 1. Traditionally, the generator-side
converter is used to realize the maximum power point
tracking (MPPT) control, whereas the grid-side converter
controls the DC-link voltage DC-link voltage UDC as well as
the reactive power to the grid. When the grid voltage sags, the
crowbar protection circuit is activated to provide a bypass for
overflowing power, which makes it possible for PMSG to
achieve the LVRT.

*ULG

Pm

Pg

Ps
306*

Vs I s

Po p t

Ps

Zr

Vc I g Lc Vg

Vs*=1

I sq

V s I sq

+


PI

I sd

Fig. 2 Outer loop power control diagram of the generatorside converter

Fig.1 Schematic diagram of PMSG system

1.4

15

1.2

2.1 Generator-Side Converter Operation

14

Pmax

1.0

P /pu

The steady state flux vector, voltage vector, power and


electrical torque vector equations of the generator, expressed
in the synchronous dq reference frame, are given, respectively,
by
s ( Ls_d I s_d  jLs_q I s_q )  f

V R I  ds  jZ
s s
e s
s
dt

(1)

3
Vs I s
Ps  jQs
2

Te  2 p Im s I s
where e is the electrical speed. Vs and Is are the stator
voltage and stator current vectors respectively. s and f are
the stator and rotor flux respectively. Rs is the stator resistance,
and Ls_d and L s_q are the d-axis and q-axis stator inductances
respectively. Ps and Qs are the stator output active and
reactive power respectively. Te is the electrical torque, and p
is the number of PMSGs pole pairs.
Using stator-flux-oriented control, where the stator
resistance is neglected and the stator flux vector in
synchronous reference frame is assumed to be constant, the
active power, reactive power and electromagnetic torque of
PMSG can be further deduced as
3

Ps 2 Vs I sq

(2)
Vs I sd
Qs
2

Te 2 pn\ s I sq

Equation (2) indicates that the decoupled control of the


electromagnetic power/torque and the stator reactive power
can be achieved by regulating the d- and q-axis rotor currents
respectively.
Fig. 2 shows the overall vector control scheme of the
generator-side converter. The outer-loop control regulates the
electromagnetic power and reactive power independently and
generates the reference signals Isq* and Isd* for the inner-loop
current regulation. The reference signal of the
electromagnetic power Popt* is determined by the he
maximum power point tracking (MPPT) curve, which is
shown in Fig.3.

Vs

Vs

*HQHUDWRUVLGH &URZEDU *ULGVLGH


&RQYHUWHU
&RQYHUWHU

13
12

0.8
0.6

Popt

11

0.4

10

0.2
0

0.2

0.4

Z0 0.6
0.8
Zr /pu

9
8
Wind speed[m/s]
7

1.0 Z1Zmax

1.4

Fig.3 Maximum wind power point tracking curve


2.2 Grid-Side Converter Operation
In the synchronous dq reference frame, voltage vector, DClink voltage and power of the grid-side converter can be
expressed as
dI g

 Vc
Vg Rc I g  jZe Lc I g  Lc
dt

Pg
dVdc
P
 s
C
Vdc Vdc
dt

3
Pg  jQg  Vg Ig
2

(3)

where Vg and I g are the grid voltage and grid current vectors
respectively. Vc is the output voltage of the grid-side
converter. Rc and Lc are the equivalent resistance and
equivalent inductance of the grid-side filter reactor
respectively. C and Vdc are the DC-link capacitance and
voltage respectively. Pg Qg are the output active and
reactive power of the grid-side converter respectively.
Using grid voltage oriented control, where the resistance Rc
and the transient state of the inductance Lc are neglected, the
total output active power and reactive power of the grid-side
converter can be given by

Pg

Q
g

3
 Vg I g_d
2
3
Vg I g_q
2

(4)

It can be seen from (4) that the decoupled control of the


electromagnetic power and the reactive power can be
achieved by regulating the d-axis current Igd and q-axis
current Igq, respectively.
The grid-side converter is used to control the DC-link
voltage UDC and to realize the Unity Power Factor (UPF)

control in the traditional control strategy, as illustrated in Fig.


4.
Vdc*=1 

PI


Vdc
*

Q =0 

PI

*
Ig_d

*
Ig_q

PMSG mechanical system, without installing any additional


devices. In this novel control scheme, the generator-side
converter is controlled to maintain a stable DC-link voltage,
while the grid-side converter is controlled to provide a
dynamic coordinated control for the active and reactive power
output according to the grid voltage amplitude variations
during grid faults.

Fig. 4 Outer loop power control diagram of the grid-side


converter

3 Analysis on the DC-link Voltage Oscillations


during Grid Faults
When a grid fault occurs and the grid voltage dips, for this
reason that the converter decouples the generator from the
grid, and the generator and the turbine system are not directly
subjected to grid faults, the generator-side converter continues
to transmit the power flow from the wind turbine to the grid.
However, the grid-side converter is directly affected by the
grid fault, and it can transfer less power to the grid than in
normal operation conditions. As a result, the surplus power
through the generator-side converter starts to charge the DClink capacitor and cause overvoltage in the DC-link, which
not only induces the DC-link voltage oscillations but also
seriously influence steady operation of PMSG-based wind
generation system.
In order to suppress the DC-link voltage oscillations and
achieve the LVRT of PMSG, an additional device, i.e.
crowbar, is generally installed to burn the surplus power in
the traditional control strategy. In fact, the use of the
additional device can be replaced by the optimal novel control
strategy proposed by this paper. When an abnormal grid
voltage is detected, if the generator-side converter is
controlled to immediately adjust the output power of PMSG
to match the grid-side fluctuant output power, the DC-linkside power imbalance will be transformed into another power
imbalance
between
the
mechanical
power
and
electromagnetic power of PMSG. In other words, the power
surplus is transformed in rotational energy of the rotor mass,
which starts to accelerate the rotor speed. Taking into account
the fact that the energy storage capacity of the generator
rotational rotor usually outclass that of the DC-link capacitor,
the rotor speed oscillations caused by the unbalance power
are far more less than the DC-link voltage oscillations during
grid faults. Even if the rotor speed exceeds the rated value
under the most unfavourable conditions, the pitch controller
can be quickly employed to limit the rotor speed. Hence, the
method, using the generator rotational rotor to storage the
surplus power, also can effectively weaken the DC-link
voltage oscillations and contribute to the LVRT of PMSG.

4 A Novel Control Strategy of PMSG


For maintaining the constant DC-link voltage so as to
enhance the low voltage ride-through (LVRT) capability and
stability of PMSG-based wind turbine, this paper presents a
novel control strategy based on the energy storage capacity of

4.1 Generator-Side Converter Operation


As illustrated in Fig. 5, the task of the generator-side
converter presented in this paper is to maintain the constant
DC-link voltage VDC and to regulate the generator stator
voltage Vs to its rated value. This control scheme can
efficiently suppress the oscillations of the DC-link voltage
without installing any addition devices and controlling units.
Vs*

PI


Vs
*
Vdc

PI

*
Is_d
*
Is_q


Vdc

Fig.5 the Generator-side Converter Control Strategy used in


this work
4.2 Grid-Side Converter Operation
In order to realize power tracking optimization during and
after an abnormal voltage is detected, the grid-side converter
is set to provide a dynamic coordinated control for the active
and reactive power output according to the grid voltage dip
level and the grid requirement. As illustrated in Fig.6, when
grid voltage Vg is in the domain of 0.9Vg1.1, the task of
the grid-side converter is used to realize the maximum power
point tracking (MPPT) control, which directly transmits the
maximum wind power captured by the wind turbine to the
grid. Contrary, when grid disturbance occurs and the grid
voltage Vg is in the domain of Vg 0.9, the grid-side
converter is affected by the low voltage and it cannot deliver
the expected active power. Therefore, the grid-side converter
is switched from the MPPT control to the fault recovery
control, which mainly supplies the reactive power output to
help the system to recover the voltage.
*
Popt

Pg

3
 Vg I gd
2

*
Ig_d1

1
Vg* 


PI

d I g2_ max  I g*2_ d

*
Ig_d

*
Ig_q1

I*

g_dq

Vg

0.9  Vg  1.1 , Preferential Control for Active Power

Ig_d1*
Vg*

d I g2_ max  I g*2_ q


t 1.5 u (0.9  Vg ) I gN 

Ig_d2*
*
Ig_q2

*
Ig_d

Vg  0.9or Vg ! 1.1, Preferential Control for Reactive Power

Fig.6 the Grid-side Converter Control Strategy used in this


work

4.3 Generator-Side Converter Operation


The principle of the proposed control scheme is to
coordinate the unbalanced power flowing of the full-scale
converter, using the inertial energy storage of the generator
rotor during the grid voltage sags, and the regulation of the
active power from the PMSG upon the detection of the
abnormal dc voltage. As illustrated in Fig.7, while the wind
velocity is 9m/s, the PMSG operates at point A under the
MPPT control initially. Once the grid voltage drops, the gridside output active power is limited to Plim, and the operating
point of PMSG is thus moved from A to O. Using the
generator-side converter to maintain the constant DC-link
voltage, the power surplus of DC-link side is transformed in
rotational energy of the generator rotor mass, promoting the
rotor speed acceleration and reserving the kinetic energy, and
the operating point of PMSG is moved from O to B. After the
grid voltage is recovered, the power limiting of the grid-side
converter is recovered to its rated value PN, and the operating
point of PMSG is switched from B to C. At this moment,
because the output active power of the generator is far more
than the mechanical power of the wind turbine, the rotor
speed is decelerated to release the reserved kinetic energy,
and the operating point of PMSG is moved from B to C.
Finally, the stable operation of the PMSG is recovered.
1.4

14

Pn

P/pu

15

Popt

13
12

0.6
0.2

PA

Plim

0.2

0.6

Z r /pu

11

&
%
'Z r

10
8

Wind Speed
[m/s]

Z r0 1 Z r1

1.4

Fig. 7 Principle of achieving low voltage ride through based


on rotor energy storage

5 Simulation Studies
Simulations were performed using Matlab/Simulinks
SimPower System Blockset to verify the proposed control
scheme and compare the performance of the different control
strategies. The wind farm is simulated as a lumped 20MW
PMSG model containing 10 PMSGs, each rated at 2MW.
Detailed converter models were constructed and the switching
frequency of is 2 kHz. The control strategies illustrated in
Figs. 5 and 6 were implemented. The simulation system
shown in Fig.8 is used. The grid voltage drops down to 20%
of the rated value at 2s, and the duration is 0.625s.
Ps

'Pdc

Pg
T1

PMSG

102MW

B1/690V

Z1

T2

Z2

Grid

B2/35kV B3/220kV

Fig. 8 Structure diagram of the grid-connected PMSG-based


wind generation system

Fig. 9 compares the system dynamic performance under the


traditional control method installing crowbar circuit and the
novel control method.
As seen in Fig. 9a, in traditional control method, when the
grid fault occurs, the output active power of the grid-side
converter decreases to 20%, while the generator-side
converter continues to implement the MPPT control. As a
result, the surplus power through the generator-side converter
starts to charge the DC-link capacitor and cause overvoltage
in the DC-link, which triggers the power switch of crowbar
circuit to maintain the stable DC-link voltage. After the grid
voltage is recovered, even though the output active power of
the grid-side converter recovers to the rated value and the
grid-side converter exits the current limit state to recover the
DC-link voltage control, he switch control on DC-link
voltage , between the grid-side converter and crowbar circuit,
results in the DC-link voltage transient drop. Meanwhile, due
to the current limit of the grid-side converter during voltage
sags, the wind generation system cannot provide the reactive
power to contribute to the grid voltage recovery.
As seen in Fig. 9b, in the novel control method proposed by
this paper, when the grid fault occurs, the generator-side
converter is controlled to immediately adjust the output power
of PMSG to match the grid-side fluctuant output power, the
power imbalance of the DC-link side is transformed into
another power imbalance between the mechanical power and
electromagnetic power of PMSG, and the power surplus is
translated into rotational energy of the generator rotor, which
increases the rotor speed by 3% of the rated value. The gridside converter is controlled to realize the fault recovery
control during voltage dips, which mainly supplies the
reactive power output to help the system to recover the
voltage. There is a grid voltage rise of 10% as can be seen
from Fig. 9b.

5 Conclusion
This paper presents a novel control strategy based on the
mechanical rotor storing energy, to achieve the low voltage
ride-through of PMSG-based wind turbine and provide a
dynamic reactive power supply to power system, during grid
faults. The generator-side converter is employed to maintain a
stable DC-link voltage, while the grid-side converter is used
to realize the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) and the
coordinated control for the active and reactive power. During
the low voltage ride-though of PMSG-based wind turbine, the
active power output of the generator is controlled by the
generator-side converter according to the variation of the DClink voltage. The power surplus is transformed in rotational
energy of the rotor mass so as to improve the DC-link voltage
stability. Meanwhile, the grid-side converter is employed to
realize the coordinated control strategy for the active and
reactive power output of the grid-side converter according to
the grid voltage change range.
The main achievements that will be obtained in this paper
are as follows:
1. The effective application of the generator rotor energy
storage reduces the losses of the active power during the
process of the LVRT.

1.5
1
0.5
0
0.7

0.6

0.6

0.5
1.5
1
0.5
0
1.5
1
0.5
0
1.05

0.5
1.5
1
0.5
0
1.5
1
0.5
0
1.05

r(pu)

Pg(pu)

Ps(pu)

Pm(pu)

Us(pu)

1.5
1
0.5
0
0.7

1
1.5
1
0.5

Id(pu)

1
0
-1

0
1
0
-1

1.2

1.2

Udc(pu)

Iq(pu)

1
1.5
1
0.5
0

0.8

3
4
Time (s)

0.8

3
4
Time (s)

a
b
Fig.9 The comparison of PMSG low voltage ride through dynamic responses in both control strategies
2.

a traditional control method installing crowbar circuit


b the novel control method

The DC-link voltage fluctuation can be obviously


decreased by controlling the generator-side converter.

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