Maximum Power Extraction from a Wind Turbine Using Terminal Synergetic Control

Abstract

This study presents a nonlinear controller with a wind speed estimator for a variable speed wind turbine at below-rated wind speed. A nonlinear controller is designed to address the rapid variations in wind and uncertainties in the wind system. The objective of nonlinear controller is to maximize the energy that can be extracted from wind with a reduction on mechanical loads. The synergetic and terminal synergetic controllers are proposed for improving energy capture and load mitigation. Also, the stability of the controllers is analysed by Lyapunov stability. The proposed controllers were validated using the FAST (Fatigue, aerodynamics, structures and turbulence) numerical model. Finally, a comparative study has been made between the controllers for different wind speed profiles.

KEYWORDS:

• FAST numerical simulator
• Synergetic controller
• Terminal synergetic controller
• Wind speed estimator
• Wind turbine

Additional information

Notes on contributors

K. K. Prabhakaran

K K Prabhakaran received the BEng degree in electrical and electronics engineering and the MEng degree in power electronics and drives from Anna University, Chennai, India, in 2011 and 2013, respectively, and the PhD degree in electrical and electronics engineering from the National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, India, in 2019. He is currently a postdoctoral fellow with the Hydropower Simulation Laboratory, Department of Water Resource Development and Management, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India. His research interests include nonlinear control, control of power converters, industrial drives, power electronics applications in renewable energy systems and power conditioning.

R. Saravanakumar

R Saravanakumar received his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Anna University India, in 2008 and master degree in electrical engineering in 2010 and PhD degree in control system engineering from the Department of Electrical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, India, in 2016. He was also a postdoctoral fellow from IIT Roorkee. Currently, he is assistant professor in the Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering in the Amrita University, Bengaluru, India. His research interests include nonlinear controller, evolutionary computation, system identification and neuro-evolutionary computation. Email: [email protected]