Impact of transients due to drive train in variable speed wind energy conversion system

Wind is uncontrolled and non-deterministic and causes unexpected variations in wind power and power generation in wind energy conversion systems. The drive train subjected to a varying wind power develops transients at various levels owing to interaction among the mechanical and electrical variables with non-linear characteristics. A transient performance analysis has been carried out showing the impact of transients on the mechanical torque developed and generated stator voltage in a three phase induction generator. Simulation (using Matlab / Simulink Software) results of wind energy conversion systems are discussed. Simulation results give significant information about impact of transients due to the drive train dynamics of wind turbine upon variation in load and wind speed. This paper presents analysis on the plant dynamics aspects at low frequencies of a wind turbine system operating in variable speed mode at varying load conditions using the back-to-back converter for load balancing.