LARGE OFFSHORE WIND FARM: POTENTIAL

EVALUATION OF NETWORK SERVICES

Djamel Ikni, PhD candidate
Brayima Dakyo, member IEEE
Electrotechnic and Automatic Research
Laboratory of Le Havre (GREAH)
University of Le Havre
Le Havre, France


AbstractThis paper presents a comprehensive analysis
ability of large offshore wind farms to meet the power
requirements of the grid code. In this study, we examined two wind
farm configuration, i.e. AC configuration and DC on
analysis of wind farm AC control configuration has been
presented. Furthermore, the developed control and the topology
the converter used in the case for wind farm
have been explained.
Index Terms -DC grid, Offshore Wind Park, HVDC, HVAC,
DC /DC, Permanent magnet synchronous generator

I. INTRODUCTION
The integration rate of offshore wind power is more and
more high; its marginality is reduced, and its presence is
beginning to impact the network operations. For this reason,
various grid companies have developed specific technical
requirements for offshore large wind farms connected to the
transmission network. Increasingly, the capacity of offshore
wind park increases and the distance from the wind farm to
the point of common coupling follows the same trend. These
situations generate losses, additional costs and limit the
capacity to transport this huge energy coming from the large
farm with traditional transmission systems so
In these cases, HVDC transmission becomes adequately a
privileged solution [1], [2], [3], [4].
The main goal of the this paper is to analyze the behavior
and effectiveness of DC/DC converters used in order to
realize a large DC configuration of high power offshore wind
farm. Then, the obtained results from large DC configuration
are compared to that of the conventional
This work has been done under normal conditions (no fault
on network). The wind farm power factor is equal to 1.
to the fact that the physical behavior of high power systems is
the same for real size or reduced scale; the
this paper is done in reduced scale for an average power of 15
MW.
LARGE OFFSHORE WIND FARM: POTENTIAL
EVALUATION OF NETWORK SERVICES
Djamel Ikni, PhD candidate
Brayima Dakyo, member IEEE
and Automatic Research
Laboratory of Le Havre (GREAH)
Ahmed O.Bagre, PhD candidate
Energy and Energy Saving Laboratory (LESEE)
International Institute for Water and Environmental
Engineering
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the
ability of large offshore wind farms to meet the power
study, we examined two wind
configuration, i.e. AC configuration and DC one. A brief
AC control configuration has been
control and the topology of
farm DC configuration
grid, Offshore Wind Park, HVDC, HVAC,
Permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG)
NTRODUCTION
The integration rate of offshore wind power is more and
more high; its marginality is reduced, and its presence is
beginning to impact the network operations. For this reason,
various grid companies have developed specific technical
ts for offshore large wind farms connected to the
Increasingly, the capacity of offshore
wind park increases and the distance from the wind farm to
the point of common coupling follows the same trend. These
additional costs and limit the
capacity to transport this huge energy coming from the large
farm with traditional transmission systems so-called HVAC.
In these cases, HVDC transmission becomes adequately a
this paper is to analyze the behavior
and effectiveness of DC/DC converters used in order to
realize a large DC configuration of high power offshore wind
results from large DC configuration
onventional AC configuration.
This work has been done under normal conditions (no fault
on network). The wind farm power factor is equal to 1. Due
to the fact that the physical behavior of high power systems is
he study presented in
this paper is done in reduced scale for an average power of 15
II. COMPARATIVE STUDY
HVAC TRANSMISSION
In the Fig.1, an idea can be made
limitations of each transmission technology in term
power transmission. It can be
transmission technology is limited to a distance of 100
with a power of 200MW, beyond this distance and for a
higher power VSC-HVDC; technology is the best solution
[5]. Fig.2 shows the cost of energy produced
distance and the wind farm
power [3], [1]. Fig.2 enables to conclude if the distance is
greater than 80km; the DC configuration seems interesting
compared to the AC configuration.
to develop relevant topologies
control system to promote HVDC transmission system and
large DC configuration of offshore wind farm [2], [3].
Fig.1: Choice of transmission system according to the wind farm capa
and connection distances.
LARGE OFFSHORE WIND FARM: POTENTIAL
EVALUATION OF NETWORK SERVICES
Ahmed O.Bagre, PhD candidate
Energy and Energy Saving Laboratory (LESEE)
International Institute for Water and Environmental
Engineering -2iE Foundation
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso


STUDY BETWEEN HVDC AND
TRANSMISSION SYSTEM
can be made about the capacity and
limitations of each transmission technology in terms of high-
It can be observed that the HVAC
is limited to a distance of 100km
MW, beyond this distance and for a
HVDC; technology is the best solution
of energy produced according to the
configuration for a same rated
2 enables to conclude if the distance is
greater than 80km; the DC configuration seems interesting
compared to the AC configuration. Both data have allowed us
to develop relevant topologies of the converters and their
control system to promote HVDC transmission system and
large DC configuration of offshore wind farm [2], [3].

Fig.1: Choice of transmission system according to the wind farm capacities
and connection distances.
Fig.2: Energy production cost according to the AC/DC configurations.
III. AC WIND FARM CONFIGU
The offshore wind farm in AC configuration studied with a
power rated of 15 MW including three
Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator (PMSG)
generator presents a rated power 5MW with an AC voltage of
33kV. The wind farm is connected to the grid at a voltage of
230 kV through a power transformer (offshore station)
illustrated in Fig.3.
A. Control Strategy of the System
The wind farm controller is the "brain center" of the wind
farm. Its role is to control the total amount of power that is
required and authorized to inject the wind farm energy to the
grid. The overall objective of such a controller is to
wind farm to behave as active element, which can be
monitored in the power system. Fig.4 illustrates the structure
of the wind farm control system [6].
The control level of the wind farm behaves as one
centralized unit. It has as inputs, the req
system operator, the measurements at the point of common
coupling (PCC) and the power available in the wind farm.
Depending on the state of the grid, the operator requires some
electrical operation of the wind farm, i.e. the wind farm in
different operation modes [6].
In the block dispatch control presented in Fig. 5, the
active and the reactive power references for each wind
turbine of the farm is calculated using the proportional
distribution algorithm method [6], [7]. Equation (1)
synthesizes this method, where P
demand
respectively the active and the reactive power demanded by
the grid manager, P
avail-i
and Q
avail-i
are the available active
and the reactive powers for i wind turbine.
_
P
c]
w1
= P
dcmund

P
ccil-i
P
ccil

c]
w1
=
dcmund

ccil-i

ccil

AC/DC configurations.
AC WIND FARM CONFIGURATION
The offshore wind farm in AC configuration studied with a
three wind turbines with
Magnet Synchronous Generator (PMSG). Each
generator presents a rated power 5MW with an AC voltage of
The wind farm is connected to the grid at a voltage of
230 kV through a power transformer (offshore station) as
The wind farm controller is the "brain center" of the wind
role is to control the total amount of power that is
required and authorized to inject the wind farm energy to the
The overall objective of such a controller is to allow the
wind farm to behave as active element, which can be
4 illustrates the structure
wind farm behaves as one
the requirements of the
measurements at the point of common
coupling (PCC) and the power available in the wind farm.
Depending on the state of the grid, the operator requires some
of the wind farm, i.e. the wind farm in
In the block dispatch control presented in Fig. 5, the
active and the reactive power references for each wind
turbine of the farm is calculated using the proportional
distribution algorithm method [6], [7]. Equation (1)
demand
and Q
demand
are
respectively the active and the reactive power demanded by
are the available active
wind turbine.
(1)
Fig.3: Offshore wind farm based on an AC

Fig.4: Wind farm control method.

Fig.5: Control strategy of the
The active and the reactive power
are calculated in (2).
_
P
uuI
= P
uuI-
3
=1

uuI
=
uuI-
3
=1


B. AC configuration Control Results
An important element in the study of wind farm is the
wind model. Many models with greater accuracy and
complexity have been develop
behavior of the wind. In our case,
wind speed are different for
Fig.6.

Offshore wind farm based on an AC-AC configuration.

: Wind farm control method.

Control strategy of the wind turbine.
active and the reactive powers available in the wind farm

(2)
AC configuration Control Results
An important element in the study of wind farm is the
wind model. Many models with greater accuracy and
complexity have been developed in order to obtain the real
In our case, the used profiles of the
fferent for each turbine as illustrated in
Fig.6: Wind Speed profiles for the three turbines.
a)
b)
c)
Fig.7: Contribution of the each wind turbine: a)
turbine, c) third turbine.

s for the three turbines.



wind turbine: a) first turbine, b) second

Fig.8: Global Active Power for wind farm.
Fig.7 presents the contribution of the wind turbines which
shows the performances of the control.
power of the wind farms for different
as the world balance control, delta control and absolute
control) required by the grid manager
IV. DC WIND F
The structure of the offshore wind farm in
configuration is given in Fig.
controllable AC/DC Converter (
converter also controllable. The rated power and
voltage for each converter are
Converter A: Controllable
(rectifier), P = 5MW,
Converter B: Full bridge converter,
= 5 kV, V
dc-D
= 50 kV
Converter C: Full bridge converter,
=50 kV, V
dc-HVDC
=300 kV
Converter D: DC/AC Converter (
MW, V
dc-HVDC
= 300 kV,
The converters A, B and C
machine, the V
dc-Tr
voltage, the
V
dc-D
. Finally, the converter
voltage V
dc-HVDC
, and the reactive power exchange
grid.

Fig.9: Offshore wind farm based on a DC


Active Power for wind farm.
Fig.7 presents the contribution of the wind turbines which
shows the performances of the control. Fig.8 shows the global
of the wind farms for different operation modes (such
as the world balance control, delta control and absolute
control) required by the grid manager.
FARM CONFIGURATION
The structure of the offshore wind farm in DC
onfiguration is given in Fig.9. Each wind turbine includes a
AC/DC Converter (rectifier), and DC/DC
lable. The rated power and the rated
for each converter are presented in next paragraph:
ontrollable AC/DC Converter
P = 5MW, V
dc-Tr
= 5 kV.
: Full bridge converter, P = 5MW, V
dc-Tr

= 50 kV.
Full bridge converter, P=15MW, V
dc-D

=300 kV.
: DC/AC Converter (inverter), P=15
300 kV, V
PCC
= 230 kV.
control respectively the PMSG
voltage, the offshore platform voltage
the converter D at the grid side controls the
reactive power exchanged with the

farm based on a DC configuration.

A. Generator-Side Converter Control
The generator is controlled in the Park
the control. The electric torque is controlled to regulate the
wind power extracted to its maximum. The reference current
I
sd-ref
for I
sd
is chosen to 0 in order to simplify the control
because the torque became a linear function depending on the
I
sq
current. The I
sd
and I
sq
currents control strategy is shown in
Fig.10, where V
dc-Tr
is obtained from the converter B
B. DC bus voltage Control Strategy
Currently, the DC / DC converters for
application are available. Many topologies
Converter are presented in the literature, [2].
topologies, the full bridge converter is more
offshore wind energy applications. For this reason
studies the full bridge converter has been used
The DC/DC converter is used to maintain the
voltage management. The converter control
in Fig.11, which adopts a double loops control
first control loop is based on the V
dc-Tr
voltage
which estimates the I
dc-D1-ref
for I
dc-D1
current management
The same strategy is applied to the converter
The control signals (PWM1-PWM4
are obtained by comparing the U
mod
signal
carrier wave form with a frequency of 10 kHz.
between 0 and 1, [11]. The converter D is used to control
V
dc-HVDC
voltage and the reactive power exchanged with the
grid as illustrated in Fig.12, [12], [13].
The reference for the active power is same in the DC and
AC Configuration. Moreover, the reactive power is supplied
by the DC/AC converter in grid side. The active and reactive
powers references are given in (3).
_
P
c]
w1
= P
dcmund

P
ccil-i
P
ccil

c]
w1
=
dcmund

Fig.10: Control strategy of the AC/DC Converter and PMSG.


The generator is controlled in the Park dq plan to simplify
the control. The electric torque is controlled to regulate the
wind power extracted to its maximum. The reference current
is chosen to 0 in order to simplify the control
because the torque became a linear function depending on the
currents control strategy is shown in
converter B, [8], [9].
converters for high-power wind
topologies of the DC/DC
Converter are presented in the literature, [2]. Among these
ter is more appropriate for
this reason [2], in our
has been used.
is used to maintain the V
dc-Tr
control strategy is shown
s control [2], [10]. The
voltage management,
current management.
converter C.
and PWM2-PWM3)
signal

to a triangular
frequency of 10 kHz. U
mod
must be
is used to control
the reactive power exchanged with the
he reference for the active power is same in the DC and
AC Configuration. Moreover, the reactive power is supplied
by the DC/AC converter in grid side. The active and reactive
(3)

strategy of the AC/DC Converter and PMSG.
Fig.11: Full bridge converter
Fig.12 : Control Strategy of
C. DC configuration Results
The Dynamic behavior of
the case of wind farm DC configuration is shown Fig.13 to
Fig.17.
Fig.13: DC bus voltage control result

converter control strategy.

of DC/AC Converter in grid-side.
Results
The Dynamic behavior of the different converters used in
configuration is shown Fig.13 to
Fig.13: DC bus voltage control result for the first turbine.

Fig.14: Vdc-D and Vdc-HVDC voltages control results.
a)
b)

c)
Fig.15: Wind turbines contribution: a) first turbine, b) second turbine, c)
third turbine.
voltages control results.



Wind turbines contribution: a) first turbine, b) second turbine, c)
Fig.16: Global Active Power for wind farm.

Fig.17: Contribution of the each wind turbine: a) first turbine, b) second
turbine, c) third turbine.

Global Active Power for wind farm.

a)

b)

c)
Contribution of the each wind turbine: a) first turbine, b) second
turbine, c) third turbine.


Fig.13 presents the rectifier output voltage V
dc-Tr
for the first
wind turbine, which is same to its reference value. The V
dc-D
voltage and the V
dc-HVDC
voltage are illustrated in Fig.14. The
contribution of the each wind turbine is plotted in Fig.15.
These currents have the same wave form to their
corresponding power due to constant behavior of the DC-bus
voltage (V
dc-D
).
Fig.16 shows, the total active power in connection
coupling point for different operating mode (balance, delta
and absolute controls). This power is always equal to its
reference, and the same for each wind turbine as presented in
Fig.17.
V. CONCLUSION
Two configurations of the offshore wind farm are studied
and analyzed in this paper. The first configuration is based on
AC/DC converters with the power transformer in order to
increase the voltage. The second configuration is focused on
DC/DC converters in order to increase and control the voltage
level. The obtained results from DC configuration are
compared to that of the AC configuration. In the case of DC
configuration, the obtained results such as active power
control result and the voltage management agree the proposed
control strategy.
Finally, the DC configuration enables to transport a high
power for greater distance with same performances to that of
AC configuration for reduced power.
References
[1] [1]P. Bresesti, Wil L. Kling, Ralph L. Hendriks, and R. Vailati"HVDC
connection of offshore wind farms to the transmission system" IEEE
Transaction on energy conversion, vol.22, no.1, pp.37-43, March 2007.
[2] L. Max, "Design and control of a DC collection grid for a wind
farm"Ph.D.dissertation .Dept of Energy and Environment, Univ.
Goteborg, Sweden 2009.
[3] S.Lundberg "Conguration study of large wind parks" Ph.D. dissertation
.Deptof Energy and Environment, Univ. Goteborg, Sweden 2003
[4] B. Van Eeckhout "The economic value of VSC HVDC compared to
HVAC for offshore wind farms," Master Thesis, Univ Katholik
Leuven. Belgique 2007 2008.
[5] S. Meier "Novel voltage source converter based HVDC transmission
system for offshore wind farms,"Ph.D. dissertation. Dep. Electrical
Engineering Electrical Machines and Power Electronics, Royal Institute
of Technology Department Sweden2005.
[6] Cosmin E. Bnceanu, Iulian V" Coordinated control of wind turbine"
Master Thesis, Dept. Energy Technology - Pontoppidanstrde 101
Aalborg , Univ Aalborg , Denmark, 2011.
[7] T.Ghennam,"Supervision dune ferme olienne pour son intgration
dans la gestion dun rseau lectrique, apports des convertisseurs multi
niveaux au rglage des oliennes base de machine asynchrone
double alimentation," PhD. dissertation, Laboratoire dElectrotechnique
et dElectronique de Puissance (L2EP), Lille, France, 2011
[8] V. Courtecuisse, Supervision dune centrale multisource base
doliennes et de stockage dnergie connecte au rseau
lectrique,Phd dissertation, Gnie Electrique, Ecole Nationale
Suprieure des Arts et Mtiers, Lille, 2008 France
[9] Ahmed M. Hemeida, Wael A. Farag, and Osama A. Mahgoub,
Modeling and control of direct driven PMSG for ultra large wind
turbines, World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
No.59, pp.918-924, 2011
[10] Fujin Deng "Design and control of A DC grid for offshore wind farms
"Ph.D. dissertation. The Faculty of Engineering, Science, and
Medicine, Univ. Aalborg, Denmark2012
[11] M. B. Camara, B.Dakyo, H Gualous, C. Nichita , "Full bridge converter
for embedded energy share between battery and supercapacitors," in
Industrial Electronics, 2009. IECON '09. 35th Annual Conference of
IEEE, 2009, pp.504-509.
[12] K C.Sanjay "Control and protection of wind power plants with VSC-
HVDC connection"Ph.D. dissertation. Dipof Energy Technology, Univ.
Aalborg, Denmark 2011
[13] Guangchen Liu, Shengtie Wang, Hong Zhang, and Bo Wang,
Integrated control strategy of multibrid wind power generation
system, 2012 IEEE 7th International Power Electronics and Motion
Control Conference - ECCE Asia. June 2-5, 2012, Harbin, China