Study of Harmonic Mitigation in PMSG Wind Turbine Energy Conversion Systems

Abstract

Reduced magnet price has made synchronous generators with permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) an attractive alternative in the last couple of decades. Permanent magnet synchronous generators (PMSG) applied to wind energy conversion system (WECS) using variable speed operation is being used more frequently in wind turbine application. Variable speed systems have several advantages over the traditional method of operating wind turbines, such as the reduction of mechanical stress and an increase in energy capture. To allow the variable speed operation of the PMSG WECS a conventional passive harmonic trap filter with a bulky capacitor associated with a voltage source current controlled inverter (VS-CCI) is used. This simple scheme introduces a high intensity low frequency current harmonic content into the PMSG and consequently increases the total loses in it. Subsequently, decreases the power capability of the system. This paper presents a comparative simulation study between three different approaches applied to harmonic mitigation in PMSG WECS.