Wind turbines structural loads during fault ride-through operation

Emphasis in this paper is on the fault ride-through operation impact on the wind turbines structural loads. Grid faults are typically simulated in power system simulation tools using simplified drive train mechanical model, approach which doesn't allow a thorough investigation of structural loads. This paper presents a two-steps simulation procedure, where two complimentary tools are combined, i.e. power system simulation tool and advanced aeroelastic simulation code. The goal is to investigate the whole integrated wind turbine design and to provide insight both into the structural as well as the electrical design of the wind turbine response during grid faults. The two-step simulation procedure is assessed by means of a simulation example. The effect of a grid fault on the structural part of a typical fixed speed wind turbine, equipped with an induction generator, is assessed.