Characteristics of Variable Speed Wind Turbines Under Normal and Fault Conditions

Variable-speed wind turbines with full power processing capability are the new technology trend for large wind power plants. In this type of turbine, there is an interface between the generator and the utility grid. In this paper, we investigate the characteristics of a variable-speed wind turbine connected to a stiff grid or a weak grid, the role of reactive power compensation in optimizing the operation of the wind turbines, and the operation of a wind turbine under normal and fault conditions. Both steady state and dynamic analysis are presented.