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Advances and Applications in Mathematical Sciences
Volume 21, Issue 9, July 2022, Pages 5309-5316
© 2022 Mili Publications, India
2020 Mathematics Subject Classification: 86-10.
Keywords: WECS; Simulation Tools; Wind Energy Conversion.
Received January 24, 2022; Accepted May 15, 2022
WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM: THEORETICAL
STUDY AND DESIGN USING SIMULATION TOOLS
ALBERT JOHN VARGHESE and REJO ROY
Department of Electrical Engineering
Rungta College of Engineering and Technology
Bhilai, Chattisgarh, India
E-mail: ajvberty@gmail.com
rejoroy@gmail.com
Abstract
The Study of Wind Energy Conversion Systems is a complex area in which many different
components like Wind Turbines, Generators, Power Electronic Converters, Controllers for
Maximum Power Point Tracking, Load and Filters etc has to be implemented. The cost of
implementing all these systems and to install it and monitor the power generation capacity is a
tedious and cost intensive task. Moreover the wind itself is prone to changes based on location,
season, altitude etc. The researchers are forced to adopt various mechanisms to incorporate all
these variations so that they can find the most optimized solution for final implementation of
Wind Energy Conversion System, considering all these factors. This paper discusses about the
various tools and techniques adopted by the electrical engineering researchers in the field of
wind energy power generation.
1. Introduction
The increasing energy demands of the nation and due to adverse effects of
global warming there is a rapid transition from fossil fuel-based energy
generation to renewable energy is happening quickly. Wind energy plays a
very vital role in it. As of 2020, India ranks 4th in terms of installed wind
power capacity in the world. Almost 10% of total power production comes
from wind in India based on the reports of Central Electricity Authority,
India. 70% of the annual wind generation is during the months of May to
September.
ALBERT JOHN VARGHESE and REJO ROY
Advances and Applications in Mathematical Sciences, Volume 21, Issue 9, July 2022
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Renewable Sources like Solar, Wind, Biomass, Hydro etc can play a very
wide role to fulfil the energy demands of India and can aid in the nation’s
economic growth. Dependency on renewable energy has multiple benefits like
help in climatic variations, development of rural areas and moreover will help
achieve sustainable development. As wind energy is plentiful, widely
distributed, renewable, clean and it uses a smaller land area it is one of the
best alternative for fossil fuels and has lower environmental impacts it can
prove to be a major contender for alternative energy source in India.
2. Basic Wind Energy Conversion System
The Wind Energy Conversion System transfers kinetic energy from wind
movement into mechanical energy with the help of a wind turbine. The
generator shaft is connected to the wind turbine, and while the wind turbine
rotates, the generator shaft rotates as well producing electrical energy.
Figure 1. Stages of Wind Energy Conversion.
The power in wind is given as:
3
2
1AVP
(1)
Where P is the Power in Wind in Watts, is the air density in kg/m3, A is
the Swept Area in
2
m
and V is the Wind Velocity in m/s. All designed Wind
Conversion system can only extract a maximum of 59.3% of the kinetic
energy in flowing air (i.e., wind) as determined by Betz Limit.
Wind Turbines (Horizontal axis Turbines [6] [8] [13] [17] or Vertical axis
Turbines [21] [22] [25] [26]) are directly connected or with a gear drive
mechanism to Generator (Squirrel Cage Induction Generators, [21] [24]
Doubly Fed Induction Generators [6] [23] or Permanent Magnet Synchronous
Generators [most of the reference papers]), the electrical energy generated is
given to an AC-DC rectifier based on power electronics and is connected to a
DC Link and further connected to a power electronic DC-AC converter [19]
WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM: THEORETICAL …
Advances and Applications in Mathematical Sciences, Volume 21, Issue 9, July 2022
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[27] and given to a filter to remove harmonics and via transformer the energy
is supplied to the grid or to the battery storage for standalone applications.
The MPPT Controller is responsible for adjusting the turbine for maximum
power extraction and deciding the duty cycle for the power electronic switches
so that maximum output can be received. [4] [8] [11]
Figure 2. Basic Block Diagram for Wind Energy Conversion System.
3. Simulation Tools used for study of Wind Energy Conversion
Systems
There are a variety of techniques used for simulating and determine a
wind energy conversion system’s efficiency, and to study its performance or
other characteristics.
Hardware Based Approach
Some of the techniques using hardware used for study and design of wind
energy conversion systems are as classified below
1. Wind tunnels are used for studying the operation of wind turbines and
connected systems in different speed and pressure conditions. Wind Tunnels
are large tubes with air blowing through them on both the ends of the tube,
fans are connected. A powerful fan on one end to blast wind onto the object
and the other to move air out of the tunnel. [17]
2. Another approach is to connect the generator with a motor and run the
motor according to the required speed and study the performance of
generator and the connected power electronic devices. [2][12][22][26]
Software Based Approach
Some of the software tools used for study and design of wind energy
conversion systems are as classified below.
ALBERT JOHN VARGHESE and REJO ROY
Advances and Applications in Mathematical Sciences, Volume 21, Issue 9, July 2022
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1. Blade Design
a. QBlade - It is an open-source simulation tool. It is also a cross-platform
wind turbine simulation software and can be used for wind turbine rotor
blade design. [13] [14]
2. Wind Energy Conversion System Design
a. Simulink is a graphical environment in MATLAB. Simulink can be
used for designing, simulating and evaluation of multi-domain system
dynamics. [1] [3] [4] [6] [8] [10] [15] [19] [24] [25], MATLAB can be used in
combination with PSIM [5], MATLAB can be used in combination with RTLab
[12], MATLAB can be used in combination with PLECS. [21]
b. Power System Simulator for Engineering is a software tool which
allows power system designers to model and simulate electricity transmission
systems in steady-state and over periods ranging from a few seconds to tens
of seconds. [23]
c. PSCAD (Power Systems Computer Aided Design) is time domain
simulation tool used to assess electrical network transients. It’s a group of
programs that offer electromagnetic transients a graphical Unix-based
graphical interface (EMTP). PSCAD/EMTDC is yet another title for it.
[27][28]
d. Plexim developed PLECS, a software tool for process modelling of
circuitry. It was created with power electronics in mind, but it may be used
with any electrical power circuit. [21]
e. PSIM is an electronic circuit modelling computer software that was
developed for power electronics and motor drive system simulations but could
be used to simulate any circuit design. [5]
f. Control Desk is dSPACE’s laboratory software for building seamless
ECUs (Electronic Control Units). From the start of the process until the end,
it executes all of the necessary tasks and provides users with an unified
workplace environment. [11]
3. Components Design
a. FLUX 2D captures the complexity of electromagnetic and thermal
phenomena to predict the behaviour of future products with precision. [18]
WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM: THEORETICAL …
Advances and Applications in Mathematical Sciences, Volume 21, Issue 9, July 2022
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b. JMAG is electrical device design and development tool using computer
simulation. JMAG was first developed in the 1980s as a design tool for
devices like actuators, motors, circuit elements, and receiver/transmitters.
[18]
c. Pro/ENGINEER CAD is a software package as well as it is the most
reliable and flexible parametric solid modelling alternative for Computer
Aided Design. [16]
d. Adams assists engineers in researching the dynamic behavior of
moving components and the propagation of loads and forces in mechanical
systems. [16]
4. Hybrid System Analysis
a. HOMER is one of the free software made by the United States,
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. This software program is used to
develop and analyse off-grid and on-grid power sources for isolated, stand-
alone, and distributed power generation systems from a technical and
economic perspective. [9][20]
5. For Measurements of Parameters
a. LabVIEW is systems engineering software tool. It is used for
applications that demand rapid access to systems hardware and data insights
for testing, measuring, and controlling. [7]
6. Hardware Specific Software
a. Used in Conjunction with Yasakawa based Motor Driver,
DriveWorksEZ (DWEZ) is a software application that allows users to
programme customized logical and mathematic algorithms into the GA800,
GA500, A1000, V1000, and U1000 drives. This simply arranges function block
symbols in a graphical flow diagram to develop application programmes. Only
a few mouse button presses separates users from complete drive and machine
control. [11]
4. Conclusion
It is quite evident that research in the field of Wind Energy Conversion
Systems is simple to carry out on the basis of the above discussed tools and
techniques. Some of the merits of using these are
ALBERT JOHN VARGHESE and REJO ROY
Advances and Applications in Mathematical Sciences, Volume 21, Issue 9, July 2022
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(1) The researcher need not shell out large amount of money by using
some of the already existing low cost techniques and tools.
(2) Using these tools and techniques a number of systems with different
specifications can be designed and easily compared.
Optimized hardware based on the results achieved using the techniques
described can be found out before going for the purchase of the components.
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