Design of a Low-Cost Wind Turbine Controller for Decentralized Rural Electrification Through the Small Wind Turbine

Abstract

This paper present the development of a low-cost wind turbine controller for decentralized rural electrification through the small wind turbine. This controller allows on the one hand protecting the battery against overcharging and deep discharge. On the other hand, it helps to protect the turbine against strong winds. It is controlled by PIC microcontroller 16F877A. This control function is performed using an algorithm that continuously compares the battery voltage to the charge and discharge thresholds, and tilting towards dissipation resistors. The control signals generated by the microcontroller are PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) type. The validation of the main functions of the controller is presented. The main advantages of this controller are the robustness, the simplicity and especially the low cost.