An heuristic algorithm for sensorless power maximization applied to small asynchronous wind turbogenerators

In asynchronous wind micropower generation, two aspects must be associated for maximum generated power: turbine alignment and load control. An algorithm to simultaneously control the load current and the wind turbine shaft direction is presented aiming at maximized use of the available wind energy. This algorithm allows the tracking for the maximum power, without any direct measurement of both wind intensity and/or wind direction. With this purpose, two additional subroutines were written as a part of the main program of control, based on an heuristic forward chaining method of artificial intelligence, known as hill climbing. Both subroutines are executed alternatively and they share the same data acquisition circuits of the conventional control system. A DC motor is used to properly yaw the turbine while a power converter copes with the load current. As a result one has a simplified, robust and efficient control for use in small wind energy systems