Maximum power point tracking of matrix converter based wind systems with permanent magnet synchronous generator

Abstract

In this work, matrix converter based wind energy systems equipped with Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generators (PMSG) are proposed. To extract the maximum available power from the wind, the Matrix Converter is controlled using the Space Vector representation together with the Sliding Mode control technique, so that the converter supplies the generator with the required currents to provide the tracking of the established reference variables. The Maximum Power Point Tracking is achieved using two different approaches: speed control and torque control. To evaluate their performances, both control approaches are tested in MATLAB/SIMULINK. From the simulation results it is possible to confirm that with the Matrix Converter and adequate input filters it is possible to extract the maximum power from the wind with a nearly unitary power factor in the grid connection. © 2015 Springer International Publishing.