Voltage dip generator for wind energy systems up to 5 MW

The increase in installed wind power has brought a number of Grid Code areas into focus. The area of fault ride-through capability is one with serious implications for system security and thus has an impact on the allowed wind energy penetration in the network. There are several wind turbine models that can be used to study the effects of voltage dips and the corresponding wind turbine responses but these models need to be validated by comparing their results with the data obtained during field tests. This paper presents the design of a voltage dip generator that can be used to test wind turbines up to 5 MW and 20 kV. This system is able to adjust voltage dip depth and duration to the standards defined in different countries and also the fault impedance seen by the grid in order not to disturb its operation during the tests. Simulation results are validated using experimental data obtained at a laboratory-scale prototype (400 V, 90 kW). Finally, the actual 5 MW system and the results obtained during field tests are presented. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.