This study focuses on implementing a wind turbine emulator based on a permanent magnet synchronous machine with excitation auxiliary windings and thoroughly investigates the space harmonics created by this innovative topology in MATLAB/Simulink. A Hybrid Generator (HG) is a robust generator that does not have slip rings or brushes in its structure. Furthermore, the flux of the hybrid generator HG may be easily adjusted as it is created by direct current excitation coils and permanent magnets. Unfortunately, the space harmonic rate in the HG is relatively high. In other words, the mechanical vibrations caused by the electromagnetic torque ripple threaten the drive train’s behaviour and, ultimately, the wind turbine’s lifespan. This study describes two methods for decreasing the ripple in electromagnetic torque. Both circuit architecture and robust H_∞ control techniques are considered. After simulating the two approaches, a list of requirements is provided for the maximum allowable amplitude of the inductance and the flux harmonics.

This article discusses the control optimization of a hybrid generator-based wind conversion system (WCS). The optimization issues consider the maximization of the extracted wind power for the below-rated wind speeds and the load mitigation for high wind speeds. To do so, a DC/DC converter is used to realize the steady-state control of the generator's velocity through the adjustment of the excitation current, leading to maximization in the wind extracted power. As for the high wind speeds, a H_∞ regulator implemented for the pitch control and a filter smoothing for the pitch angle reference are used to mitigate the load. Thanks to the implemented control strategy, the amplitude of the fluctuation of the bending moment was reduced by about 20% and the turbine torque vibration was reduced by 66% in comparison with other existing works from the literature conducted on the same wind turbine. The velocity controller is three times faster than the baseline controller and allows for increasing the wind extracted power by 6%. In this research, an integrated simulation platform, combining the electrical, mechanical, and aerodynamic aspects of a WCS, is set up. The space harmonics of the generator, the commutation effects of the power converters, the flexible coupling between the wind turbine's mechanical elements, and the aerodynamic interactions are taken into account. Finally, the control of the WCS in its full operating range is considered. The mechanical and aerodynamic data from the 1.5 MW WindPACT turbine available in the Fatigue, Aerodynamics, Structures, and Turbulence simulator are used for the simulations.

The purpose of this paper is to validate a control scheme of a wind turbine in its full operating range. In order to fully validate a chosen approach, it is usually necessary to perform experimental tests on a system. Fortunately, today, simulation can be a very efficient way to evaluate engineering solutions. Indeed, it is possible to perform very advanced simulations using a model sufficiently detailed to go entirely through the effects of interactions between many factors affecting the operation of the wind turbine. Failure to perform proper interconnection studies can lead to false conclusions regarding the controllers design and could endanger operations on the real system. Numerical simulation tools developed specifically for power systems and dynamic modeling may be used but general purpose modeling software such as Matlab-Simulink is well suited to the task. This paper presents an integrated Matlab-Simulink simulation platform for a robust control of a wind energy conversion system based on a hybrid excitation synchronous generator (HESG).

This paper presents an original and autonomous solar pumping system, based on a Switched Reluctance Motor commutated by photovoltaic cells (SRMPV) and powered by a photovoltaic generator. In this work, experimental tests characterizing the SRMPV are presented. Based on these experiments, the first mathematical model of this complex system is developed and implemented under the Matlab-Simulink platform. In order to optimize the design of the SRMPV, the simulation platform is used to perform a sensitivity study. This research will focus on the determination of the optimal number of coils, the optimal air gap, and the optimal winding cross area of the switched reluctance motor.