Application of SMES unit to improve the overall performance of DFIG-based WECS

Doubly Fed Induction Generators (DFIGs) are nowadays extensively used in variable speed wind power plants due to their advantages that include reduced converter rating, low cost, reduced losses with an improved efficiency, easy implementation of power factor correction schemes, variable speed operation and four quadrants active and reactive power control capabilities. On the other hand, DFIG sensitivity to grid disturbances, especially for the voltage dip represents the main disadvantage of the equipment. This paper presents the application of superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) unit to improve the overall performance of a DFIG-based wind energy conversion systems (WECS). Two control approaches namely; hysteresis current controller (HCC) along with proportional integral (PI) controller and a fuzzy logic (FL) controller for the SMES unit are presented and compared. Various grid codes are used to examine the capability of the two proposed controllers to improve the low voltage ride through (LVRT) capability of the DFIG to maintain the wind turbine connection to the grid through fault durations.