Reactive power control methods for improved reliability of wind power inverters under wind speed variations

Ke Ma, Marco Liserre, Frede Blaabjerg

Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceedingArticle in proceedingResearchpeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)
478 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The thermal cycling of power switching devices may lead to failures that compromise the reliability of power converters. Wind Turbine Systems (WTS) are especially subject to severe thermal cycling which may be caused by the wind speed variations or power grid faults. This paper proposes a control method to relieve the thermal cycling of power switching devices under severe wind speed variations, by circulating reactive power among the parallel power converters in a WTS or among the WTS's in a wind park. The amount of reactive power is adjusted to limit the junction temperature fluctuation in the most stressed devices. The possible model-based control system for the proposed method is demonstrated, designed and simulated based on the Three-level Neutral-Point- Clamped (3L-NPC) grid-connected converters. It is concluded that with the proposed reactive power control method, the junction temperature fluctuation in the most stressed devices of 3L-NPC wind power inverter under severe wind speed variations can be significantly stabilized, and the reliability of the power converter can thereby be improved while the increased stress of the other devices in the same power converter and in the paralleled ones is still acceptable.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 4th IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE), 2012
Number of pages8
PublisherIEEE Press
Publication date2012
Pages3105-3112
ISBN (Print)978-1-4673-0802-1
ISBN (Electronic)978-1-4673-0801-4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012
Eventthe Fourth IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2012 - Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, United States
Duration: 15 Sept 201220 Sept 2012

Conference

Conferencethe Fourth IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2012
LocationRaleigh Convention Center
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityRaleigh
Period15/09/201220/09/2012

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Reactive power control methods for improved reliability of wind power inverters under wind speed variations'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this