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9, #2, 20 15
BULL ET IN OF THE GEORGIAN NATIONAL ACADEM Y OF SCIENCE S, vol. 9, no. 2, 2015

Electronic

The Design of a Multilevel Converter Connected to the

Grid for Wind Turbines with Permanent Magnet
Synchronous Generator
Bahram Dadashi Khales* ,Mehran Sabahe**
*Electrical Engineering Department.Shabestar branch,Islamic Azad University, Dadashi.bahram@yahoo.com
**Electrical Engineering Department. Tabriz University

ABSTRACT. The focus of the present study is to obtain maximum power from wind turbines using multipolar permanent
magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) with a full power frequency converter providing a control strategy obtaining the
maximum power from wind turbines and connect it to the network. The control strategy is made up of two control units, a
generator-side and network-side controls. On the generator side, the incremental conductance strategy is used to obtain
maximum power from the wind turbine. And for the network-side control system comprised of a multilevel converter for
converting DC to AC power is used, which can be of 3 levels, 5 levels, 7 levels or others. In this paper, a 5-level converter is
used the control of which is conducted through using a predictive flow control strategy. The results of the proposed system
simulation are also shown. 2015 Bull. Georg. Natl.Acad. Sci.

Keywords: wind turbine, permanent magnet synchronous generator, incremental conductance strategy, predictive flow control

INTRODUCTION
The research on wind energy is mainly because of fossil fuels and environmental factors crises. Using wind energy can reduce
dependence on fossil fuels, decrease gas emissions, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that have major impacts on global
warming [1]. Accordingly, the wind turbines with variable speed and frequency converter provided a suitable ground for
research. Based on the following reasons, the permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) is used to connect to the wind
turbine.
1-the rotor has no windings.
2. The higher efficiency due to low rotor losses.
3. The lack of stimulation system.
In order to increase the speed of the wind turbine, the gear boxes are used. The wind turbine connection to the network is
conducted through using power electronics equipment (inverters). The obtained power, voltage and frequency of the generator
changes with the wind speed; therefore, the present article discusses the strategies to control the allocated power, voltage and
frequency. In this article, using a gearbox, the wind turbine is connected to a permanent magnet synchronous generator and AC /
DC / AC converter to control power, voltage and frequency when connected to a single-phase (220 V, 50 Hz) network.
In recent years, this system has been used with a conventional 3-level inverter. In this article, we use a 5-level inverter which
reduces the total harmonic distortion (THD) of the current injected into the network instead of a 3-level inverter and the results
obtained from the simulation of this system in MATLAB software confirm this, too.
System Configuration
There are different methods to convert wind energy with PMSG synchronous generator and the model used in this research is
PMSG wind energy conversion system based on the generator-side rectifier, network-side convertor, and DC to DC intermediate
convertor. [2]

Figure (1): PMSG wind energy transfer system based on the generator side rectifier and DC to DC convertor
In PMSG generators equipped with a diode rectifier connected to the generator and network- side convertor, the DC link voltage
is adjusted based on voltage characteristics - maximum power, power control and generator speed control. Diode rectifier
converts the AC power produced by the generator to the DC voltage because it does not have a fixed frequency (wind speed is
not constant) and the DC link transfers the DC generator-side DC power into the DC power in the network side. And a boost DC-
to-DC convertor is used to increase the voltage on the generator side, an inverter (DC to AC) is used in the network side to
convert DC power to AC in order to use and connect to the AC network with a fixed network frequency of 50HZ, and the

2015 Bull. Georg. Natl. Acad. Sci.

 442 B.D.Khales and M.Sabahe

maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is done to obtain maximum power from wind turbines with PMSG generator and active
power control injected into the grid. This controller receives the maximum power from the wind and injects it into the network.

THE TURBINE MATHEMATICAL MODEL

Two types of fixed speed and variable speed turbines are available and the second type is used in this study in order to obtain
maximum power from the wind turbine. If we ignore rotor friction, the turbine mechanical properties are described from the
following equations. The energy related to wind is obtained momentarily from equation (1). [3] - [4]
1 2 1 2
E mv ( P A vl )v
2 2 (1)
Where, m is the mass of air that passes in the period of time t from surface A with a velocity of v. In addition, the existing power
and torque in the wind can be obtained from equation (2) and (3).
(2)

1 3
P Av
2
(3)

1 3
P Av
2
Where,
is the density of the air. Energy absorbed by the turbine, which is part of the wind energy. [3] - [5] - [6]
(4)

P C p Pw
w in d T a r b in e
(5)

1 3
P C ( , ) A v
P
2
Cp is the power coefficient and can be defined momentarily (6).
(6)

1
1 x C6
C p ( , ) C C . C . C . C e
1 2 3 4 5

is the ratio of linear speed of the blade tip to the wind speed which is obtained from equation (7).
(7)

1 1 0 .0 3 5

0 .0 8 3
1
Where, A is the area swept by the turbine that is obtained from equation (8).
(8)
2
A R
R is the radius of the turbine blades.
The specifications of the turbine are shown in the Appendix (A). [7] Therefore, equation (9) is obtained with the placement of the
turbine specifications in equation (6).
(9)

21

1
C p ( , ) 0 .5 (1 1 6 . 0 .4 5 ) e

And the torque generated from wind is obtained from the following equation.
1 3
C p ( , ) . . A .V
p 2
Tw
wm wm
(10)

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The Design of a Multilevel Converter Connected 443

wm Cp
is the rotor mechanical angular speed (rad/s). The maximum theoretical amount of is equal to 0/593. [7] However, this
C p m a x = 0 .4 1
amount is obtained =0.41 in practice and in stimulation and the maximum power is achieved. This fact is shown in the
following figure.

Figure( 2): Power coefficient according to

DESIGN AND CONTROL OF BOOST CONVERTOR (1-4), THE DC LINK MODEL

Figure 3 illustrates the topology used in the boost convertor. In this method, an IGBT is recommended as a switch. [8]

Figure( 3): boost convertor [8]

V V V
In practice, D C is obtained through measurement and compares D C with a D C ref through MPPT method obtained by a PI
controller and its output provides the pulse of boost converter key command.
Vout 1

and D: (Duty cycle V in 1 D (11)

INVERTER DESIGN AND CONTROL

The desired five-level converter (inverter)to be used in the output of PMSG generator in order to transfer the desired power to the
network is a floating h-bridge capacitor multi-level converter. Figure (4) shows this converter. Due to the decreased voltage
ripple as well as output current in the five-level inverter compared to the three-level inverter, the five-level inverter has been
used. The reason for preferring floating capacitor converter over the other models is:Floating capacitor converter requires only
one DC source in the converter input. The best types of converters to be used in the desired system in this study are those which
require one DC source in the input since there is only one voltage in the system output. Both transmitting real and reactive
powers in this converter are controllable. Considering what mentioned so far, this converter is a suitable voltage source to
transfer high DC voltage. [9]

Figure (4): five-level inverter with floating capacitor [10]

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 444 B.D.Khales and M.Sabahe

INVERTER CONTROL STRATEGY USING PREDICTING CURRENT CONTROL MODEL

i ( k 1) V
in v
According to figure (5), the current of point K is selected from the reference wave form, the current of for each is
( k 1) i ( k 1)
calculated from equation (12), and then a cost function in point is calculated for each using equation (13). Next,
the cost matrix is arranged in an ascending order from the lower to the higher. This matrix is then sorted in the form of row
numbers of matrix elements and placed in one single matrix. The first row number in this matrix is considered as the best form
( k 1)
since it has the shortest distance with the reference current in point . After that, the command of turning on the switches
is made using the first row number. For example, if the first row number and matrix column is 1, the command of turning on the
V
switches must be in a way that makes the inverter output DC . If the first row number and matrix column is 2, the command of
Vdc
turning on the switches must be in a way that makes the inverter output voltage 2 . In this way, if the first row number and
matrix column is 3, the inverter output voltage must be 0. If the first row number and matrix column is 4, the output voltage must
Vdc
-V
be - 2 . And if it is 5, the output voltage must be dc . [11]
Ts
i ( k 1) (V Vg ) i(k )
in v
L (12)

g i ( k 1 ) i ( k 1 )
(13)
Represents the predictor.
V
dc
V
dc
V V , , 0, , V
in v dc dc
2 2
1 2 3 4 5

Figure (5): Function of predictor current control, reference current, and produced current

POWER CONVERTER SIMULATION

This study analyzed 14KW PMSG with variable speed in the normal function mode. The model used in this article is the PMSG
wind energy conversion system based on generator-side rectifier as well as network side converter and an intermediate DC to DC
converter. Figure (1) [2]This model is simulated and analyzed in MATLAB environment and the ability of this proposed control
method is confirmed through simulation. Obtaining maximum power from the variable speed wind turbine and reducing the
output voltage ripple as well as the output current from the inverter to connect to the network is one of the purposes of the
proposed control method in this study.In this article, an improved control strategy is proposed to connect WECS to the network.
The desired PMSG system with variable speed includes a back to back converters attached by DC link. In the present study, wind
speed is considered to be variable. It was 10 m/s at first and reached 14 m/s in 0.5 second. The changes resulting from changed
wind speed in the system are observable in the simulation results.
Purposes of controlling wind turbines:
In general, the purpose of controlling turbine converters is to achieve four main purposes which are:
1. Obtaining maximum power from wind turbine
2. Stabilizing DC link voltage as well as keeping it within the permissible limit
3. Bringing the reactive power injected to the network to 0
4. Reducing voltage ripple as well as the current injected to the network

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The Design of a Multilevel Converter Connected 445

THE BLOCK MODEL OF THE SIMULATED SYSTEM

Figure (6): The Block Model of the Simulated System in MATLAB program

THE SIMULATION RESULTS

First goal: obtaining the maximum power from the wind turbine

Figure( 7): (a) the turbine power output (b) the wind turbine torque output

Figure (8): (a) the power coefficient by the time in the zero blade angle

Figure (9): (a) The generator output torque (b) the generator output active power

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 446 B.D.Khales and M.Sabahe

1800 * 2
1200 * 2 Wm 188
W m
125 60
60

Wmg/4=188/4
Wmg/4=188/4=47 =47
Gearbox conversion ratio: (1:4)

Figure (10): (a) the engine speed (rpm) (b) rotor speed (rad / s) and (c) turbine speed (rad / s)
As determined in the above figures in different wind speeds, the maximum power is obtained from the wind

The second goal: to keep a constant DC link voltage limit

Figure (11): (a) the reference voltage Vdc Ref (b) DC link voltage before boost converter (C) the output voltage of the boost
converter
As specified in figures, DC link voltage is constant during the changing wind speed.

The third goal: Bringing the reactive power injected to the network to 0

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The Design of a Multilevel Converter Connected 447

Figure (12): (a) active power injected into the network (b) injected reactive power into the network
According to the figures, the power transmitted to the network is almost zero (almost 500)

Fourth goal: reducing the ripple voltage and injected current to the network

Figure (13) : five level inverter output voltage

Figure (14): the injected current to the network and the reference current

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 448 B.D.Khales and M.Sabahe

Figure (15): the harmonics of the injected and output current to the network in the proposed five-level inverter

Figure (16): the harmonics of the injected and output current to the network in inverter (three levels)
As is clear from the above figures, the harmonics of the injected current to the network in a five-level inverter is less than a three-
level bridge inverter.

CONCLUSION
According to the results of the simulation, it can be seen that the four main goals have been achieved in the control of wind
turbines in this article.

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The Design of a Multilevel Converter Connected 449

APPENDIX
Table 1: the wind turbines features
Pich angle= 0

R 2.3
1.225
C1 0.5
C2 116
C3 0.4
C4 0
C5 5
C6 21

Table 2: the on/off conditions of the switches in Figure 4

Voltage T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8
E 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0
E/2 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1
0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
-E/2 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0
-E 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0

Table 3: system profile for simulation:

system Profile
Wind turbine parameters Nominal power )10000-0000( w

Wind speed (10-14)m/s

The turbine blade radius 2.3 m
CPmax 0/0
PMSG parameters power 14 kw
Stator voltage 100 v
The stator resistance 0/0485 ohm
DC link Dc voltage link 500 v
Capacitor capacity 080 microfarad
Switching time 20 kHZ
Ts
resistance 1 ohm
Rs
Inductance 0/5
Ls
Stator resistance 080080
R s ( )
Stator inductance 080000.0
Ls (H )
inertia 2 080000
J ( k g .m )
Stator pole p 0
Nominal torque 0080
Te ( n .m )
Nominal speed 0000
n s (rpm )

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 450 B.D.Khales and M.Sabahe

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Bull. Georg. Natl. Acad. Sci., vols. 9, no. 2, 2015