New Control Concept for Offshore Wind Power Plants : Constant-Speed Turbines on a Grid with Variable Frequency

• By using a permanent magnet induction machine as wind generator, the gearbox and converter can be omitted, and the total number of parts reduced leading to a low maintenance and reliable turbine for offshore application. The rotation speed of the turbine however cannot be matched to the wind speed, reducing the energy yield at part load. To overcome this drawback, a central converter can be used, which adjusts the frequency of the local grid in the wind park; this is the so-called park-variable concept. This concept has been compared with respect to energy yield with constant speed and variable speed turbines. Overall, the differences in energy yield of the investigated concepts are so small that other criteria, such as reliability or cost, may be relevant for the selection of one or the other approach. Above all, the park-variable concept represents an interesting alternative to today's common concepts.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Naturresursteknik -- Energisystem (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Environmental Engineering -- Energy Systems (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Central converter

Constant speed turbine

Electrical frequency

Energy yield

HVDC

Maximum power point tracking

Offshore

Park-variable concept

Permanent magnet induction machine

Pitch control

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kap (subject category)