Using STATCOM to mitigate voltage fluctuations due to aerodynamic aspects of wind turbines

This paper investigates how a static compensator (STATCOM) mitigates the voltage fluctuations caused by the aerodynaimc aspects of a wind turbine in a wind power system (e.g., due to yaw error and turbulence). In this regard, a small wind farm equipped with fixed speed wind turbines driving conventional induction generators connected to a relatively weak distribution system is studied, where a STATCOM is utilized to improve the power quality. The paper describes how the aerodynamic and mechanical aspects of a wind turbine can be simulated using TurbSim, AeroDyn, and FAST, where the electrical parts of the wind turbine, STATCOM, and network are modelled by Simulink blocks. Moreover, the STATCOM control scheme implemented in a Simulink environment is explained. Simulation results obtained from the model are used to observe the effects of yaw error and turbulence on the power and voltage variations at point of common coupling (PCC). The performance of the STATCOM and its controller is then evaluated based on these observations.