Design and control of a wind energy conversion system based on a resonant DC/DC converter

Abstract

Recent wind energy harvesting technology development has focused on using dc collection and a possible smaller passive grid because of high energy efficient components in the converter system. This study evaluates and compares the hard-switched full bridge converter and the series-parallel LCC resonant converter, both with transformer coupling, and suitable for wind energy conversion system (WECS). Experimental results substantiate their merits and drawbacks in variable wind speed conditions. The unique, previously unexploited feature of the LCC resonant converter is increased gain at low output power, low speed and low input voltage. A hardware wind turbine simulator emulating an actual wind turbine is used, with its design and control briefly highlighted. This study demonstrates the feasibility of utilising an LCC resonant converter for WECS through simulation and experimental results, both at the same power level. © The Institution of Engineering and Technology 2013.