Fuzzy logic control and PI control comparison for a 1.5 MW horizontal axis wind turbine

This paper presents a fuzzy logic control design and a proportional-integral control design comparison for a 1.5 MW horizontal axis wind turbine. Design of the proposed fuzzy logic control algorithm was achieved via the principle of heuristics. Aerodynamic characteristics of the wind turbine were studied in order to gain a basic understanding of the system dynamics. No mathematical model of the wind turbine was needed for the control design procedure. In the case of the PI control, tuning of the appropriate gains was achieved via the use of the Ziegler-Nichols methodology. For this approach a simulation of the wind turbine was performed at an operation point near nominal values. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of both techniques; appropriate responses were obtained for both methodologies, achieving a controlled power extraction near the nominal value. Maximum power extraction in low wind speeds was achieved for the fuzzy logic control scheme. Simulation was performed for different profile wind inputs and control signal was achieved without undesirable chattering effects.