The Computer Controlled Wind Power Plants Application with Induction Generator, "AEL-WPPIC", has been designed by EDIBON to study of the main characteristics and behavior of the induction generators used in wind turbines which inject the generated power into the grid.
The "AEL-WPPIC" application allows the user to become familiar with the electrical scheme and the operating characteristics of wind turbines which use squirrel cage rotor three-phase generators in wind power plants connected to the main grid. For this, the application includes a squirrel cage induction generator coupled to a three-phase motor (turbine), whose speed is controlled through a variable frequency drive. This application allows simulating different wind conditions and the drive train of a wind turbine. It also includes a module with a turbine controller for the automatic control of the turbine-generator group electrical parameters and speed, as well as for the carrying out the automatic synchronization process of the three-phase induction generator with the grid. This control module is at the same time an advanced protection for generators and turbines. It meets the ANSI standards regarding the protection parameters for generators and turbines (ANSI 81O, ANSI 81U, ANSI 59, ANSI 27, ANSI 50/51, ANSI 32R/F, ANSI IOP 32, ANSI MOP 32, ANSI 46, voltage asymmetry, generator ground fault, phase rotation, generator lagging power factor, among others). In addition, it is included a three-phase capacitors bank which will generate the required reactive energy so that the induction generator do not consume it from the grid and a network analyzer to monitor the generation electrical parameters.
On the other hand, the essential part of this application is the wind power plant simulation software, "PSV-WPPP-SOF". This tool allows the user to carry out remotely the control and automatic synchronization maneuvers with the turbine-generator group and at the same time to monitor every curves of the generator electrical parameters, the energy losses and voltage drops. In addition, it allows saving all the acquired data to watch and compare it later. It is possible to see clearly and with accuracy the effects of reactive power compensation on the monitored power curves, maximum and minimum energy demand, load unbalances and the variation of the power factor. In addition, the "PSV-WPPP-SOF" software, allows carrying out the simulation of pre-configured wind curves for a real time or later analysis of the induction generator response. In this way, the user will be able to obtain and analyze the speed and power curves of the simulated wind turbine regarding the pre-configured values, for an in-depth study of this type of wind power plants.
To acquire more experience in the study of wind turbines with three-phase squirrel cage generators, it is recommended to acquire the modules of resistors and inductances oriented to the study of the island operation of the three-phase induction generator and the manual compensation of the reactive power consumed by it. In addition, the analog instrumentation module for the measurement of the most relevant electrical parameters of the generator (P, Q, V, f) is also recommended.