Circuit breaker selection in a wind farm with Type-2 wind turbine generators

With fast increasing penetration of wind power plants around the world, it is important to document the short circuit response of wind turbine generators (WTGs) and wind farms, and analyze its effect on nearby switchgear. Using a fully validated time-domain model of Mountain wind farm in Wyoming, USA, this paper documents and analyzes the short circuit responses of a Type-2 WTG, and a wind farm consisting of Type-2 WTGs. Based on short circuit responses, recommendations and suggestions are made to select circuit breakers inside and outside the wind farm. A simplified yet accurate wind farm model is also proposed to help selection of circuit breakers at the point of interconnection of a Type-2 wind farm. Since Type-1 and Type-2 wind farms are functionally similar, the observations and recommendations made in this paper also extend to Type-1 wind farms.