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6 authors, including:
Samir Kouro
Bin Wu
SEE PROFILE
SEE PROFILE
Federico Barrero
Universidad de Sevilla
SEE PROFILE
SEE PROFILE
Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the Spanish Government (National
Research, Development and Innovation Plan, under reference DPI2009-07955, the Junta de Andaluca
2010 research program, under reference TEP-5791), by the Chilean fund for research and development
Fondecyt (no. 1110783), and by the Valparaiso Center For Science And Technology (CCTVal) No.
FB021.
Keywords
Wind energy, Multilevel converter, Multiphase drive.
Abstract
A new power converter interface for permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) based wind
energy conversion systems (WECS) is presented in this paper. The converter stage is capable to stepup the low-voltage side of standard six-phase PMSG used in todays WECS to a medium-voltage grid
side. The proposed converter is an hybrid back-to-back topology composed of two series connected
three-phase voltage source converters (VSC) at the generator side, and a 3-level neutral point clamped
converter (NPC) at the grid side. Operating with a multilevel converter at medium voltage at the grid side
has several advantages like improved power quality, increased efficiency, easier grid code compliance and
smaller cables to name a few. Compared to a back-to-back NPC configuration at both ends, the proposed
topology does not require a medium voltage generator. The feasibility of the proposed configuration is
verified by simulation analysis.
Introduction
Wind energy conversion systems (WECS) are increasing in size. This is motivated by economy of scale
and cost reduction considerations [1, 2]. This trend, together with recent more demanding grid codes for
WECS [3], are driving the wind industry to develop new generator-converter configurations. Although
Doubly-Fed Induction Generators (DFIGs) can be commonly found in currently installed wind energy
systems [4], Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generators (PMSGs) with full scale power converters are
dominating the new developments introduced in industry [2]. Different combinations of three-phase or
six-phase generators with low pole number (geared drive train) or with high pole number (gearless drive
train) are widespread and are found among most important manufacturers in their latest product lines.
The two mainstream converter stages for these generators are: several paralleled low voltage (690V)
2-level back-to-back voltage source converters (VSC), and diode rectifiers at generator side followed by
a dc-dc boost stage and grid tied VSC [1]. Only one medium voltage topology based on a back-to-back
3-level NPC converter is currently commercialized [5].
At the grid side, medium-voltage operation through a multilevel converter has a series of advantages:
improved power quality (better grid code compliance), higher efficiency (lower switching frequency),
lower step-up voltage requirement and lower currents for the same power level (reduction in cable and
filter size), to name a few [6]. For these reasons, the wind energy industry is looking for medium-voltage
topologies for the newly developed multimegawatt WECS. However, at the generator side, mediumvoltage operation requires the use of medium-voltage generators which need higher isolation and are less
common in currently found WECS in industry. Therefore, despite that medium-voltage is easy to obtain
at the grid side with present multilevel converter technology, the use of back-to-back configurations
are not a straightforward choice since non-standard medium-voltage generators for WECS need to be
developed.
State of the art generators used in multimegawatt WECS operate at 690V with high currents (kiloamp
range). Since full scale power converter interfaces are used in PMSG-based WECS, the generator is
fully decoupled from the grid. The DC-link used to decouple grid side from generator side allows
to use any number of phases on the machine side, which together with the high power nature of the
application favors the use of multiphase generators. Furthermore, the use of multiphase generators has
a series of additional advantages which include: lower phase current for the same power rating, faulttolerant operation in case of power switch or phase winding open circuit, lower MMF harmonics due
to airgap cancelation, improved efficiency, higher power density by higher order harmonic injection or
independent control of multi-machine systems [7]. Therefore, low-voltage multiphase generators are
currently used in several state of the art PMSG based WECS [2].
From the system characteristics described above it seems interesting to combine low-voltage operation at
the generator side with the medium-voltage operation at grid side using available off-the-shelf generators
and converters already developed for WECS. However, this cannot be achieved with a single converter
topology in a classic back-to-back configuration.
In this work a new hybrid back-to-back concept is proposed. The hybrid concept is based on the use
of a medium-voltage multilevel converter at the grid side, which requires several DC capacitor sources
in series at its DC-side, which are provided by several three-phase two-level voltage source converters
(2L-VSC) fed by the generator side. The series connection of the DC-side of the 2L-VSCs naturally
elevates the voltage to the operating point of the multilevel converter while keeping low-voltage at the
AC terminals. In this way each three-phase 2L-VSC can control a set of three-phase windings of a
standard low-voltage multiphase generator, provided the generator has a number of phases which is a
multiple of three.
Following this concept, a 3L-NPC multilevel converter is considered at the grid side while two threephase 2L-VSCs are used to control a six-phase PMSG at the generator side. The two VSCs are connected
in series at their DC side in order to obtain a higher DC link voltage and provide a mid-point for the 3LNPC converter. The concept can be extended to other multilevel topologies adjusting the number of
phases of the generator and the number of 2L-VSC to provide enough DC-links. The selection made
for the hybrid back-to-back converters used in this particular work is based on the fact that the 3L-NPC
and the six-phase machine driven by two standard 2L-VSCs are very popular choices in their respective
application fields (as documented in [5] and [8] respectively).
The paper is organized in four sections which include: a full description of the proposed hybrid configuration and generator model, the generator and grid-side control schemes. Finally simulation results
using parameters found on practical PMSG generators and 3L-NPCs are presented to analyze the performance of the system and illustrate most relevant characteristics.
vdc1
c
Filter
B
C
6
PMSG
Filter
Trafo.
Grid
vdc2
f
Filter
2-level VSC dc-link
3-level NPC
connection to elevate the total DC-link up to medium-voltage operation. The medium voltage DC-link is
then interfaced to the grid via a single 3L-NPC converter. The power circuit of the proposed configuration can be observed in Fig. 1. Note that a gearless drive train is shown which would require a high pole
number PMSG. Nevertheless, the same power converter interface can be used with a low pole number
PMSG with a geared drive train, although this is not the latest trend (gearbox increases size, weight,
noise, losses and maintenance requirements).
The example given in Fig. 1 can be extended for generators with more phases (9, 12, etc), hence more
2L-VSCs will be connected in series. Usually generators used in WECS are rated at 690V, while off-theshelf medium voltage 3L-NPCs can be found for 2.3, 3.3 and 4.16 kV connection. The number of phases
of the generator (number of 2L-VSCs) can be matched for a corresponding 3L-NPC medium-voltage
operation to form an appropriate configuration.
The different components of the system are described in more detail in the following subsections.
Six-Phase PMSG model
An asymmetrical six-phase permanent magnet synchronous generator (also referred to as dual threephase or split-phase PMSG) is used in the proposed WECS configuration. The generator has two sets
of three-phase windings spatially shifted by 30 electrical degrees with two isolated neutral points [7].
It is assumed in what follows that the stator windings are distributed and the magnetomotive force is
sinusoidally distributed in the air-gap of the generator, so that there are no higher order spatial harmonics. The generator is also considered as a non-salient pole machine by setting direct and quadrature
inductances to equal values (Ld = Lq ).
The modeling of the PMSG is based on the vector space decomposition (VSD) approach [9] instead of
the double d-q winding approach because it provides a better insight into physical phenomena in the
machine.
The transformation matrix from abc-def phase values to space vector -xy-z1 z2 components using a
power invariant criterion is:
ixyz1 z2 = T iabcdef
(1)
where:
iabcdef
ixyz1 z2
= [ia ib ic id ie if ]T
= [i i ix iy iz1 iz2 ]T
(2)
1
0
1
0
cos(4)
sin(4)
cos(8)
sin(8)
cos(8)
sin(8)
cos(4)
sin(4)
T=
3
1
1
2
1
2
cos()
sin()
cos()
sin()
0
1
2
cos(5)
sin(5)
cos(9)
sin(9)
0
1
2
cos(9)
sin(9)
cos(5)
sin(5)
(3)
1
2
where = /6 is the shifting angle between the two sets (abc and def ) of three-phase windings. The
z1 z2 subspace describes the zero-sequence components of both three-phase sets of winding which are
zero since both neutrals are isolated.
The space vector model of the generator can be expressed in a rotating dqxy reference frame following a
standard Park transformation for the dq currents while xy components remain stationary [7]. The PMSG
state space equations in a synchronous reference frame can be expressed as
pid
piq
pix
piy
p
=
=
=
=
=
(vd Rs id + Lq iq )/Ld
(vq Rs iq Lq id m )/Lq
(vx Rs ix )/Lls
(vy Rs iy )/Lls
P (Tm P m iq )/J
(4)
where the state variables are the stator dq-xy currents (id , iq , ix , iy ) and the rotor electrical angular speed
(), and the inputs are the stator dq-xy voltages (vd , vq , vx , vy ) and the mechanical torque (Tm ). The
parameters of the model are the number of pole pairs (P ), the flux of the permanent magnets (m ), the
stator resistance (Rs ), the stator direct and quadrature self-inductances (Ld and Lq ), the stator leakage
inductance (Lls ), and the inertia J. Note that p is the derivative operator.
Since the adopted model neglects higher order spatial harmonics, the x-y components are decoupled from
the rotor and are not involved in the energy conversion process. Consequently, the generator dynamics
is governed by d-q currents while x-y must be reduced to zero by the control algorithm for the sake of
efficiency.
Two-level Voltage Source Converter (2L-VSC)
The classic and well known 2L-VSC is used to control each set of three-phase windings of the generator.
Each converter is composed of three legs, each with two power switches that are controlled with inverse
logical signals, with 1 and 0 representing the On and Off states of the switch respectively. With
this logic, the converter can connect the generator terminals to the upper positive DC busbar of the
corresponding capacitor, or to the lower negative DC busbar, generating two different voltage levels,
hence the name 2L-VSC. Every leg of the 2L-VSCs is dedicated to a particular phase of the machine.
Therefore, by properly controlling the on and off times of the switches using a modulation scheme, the
currents of the generator can be controlled at will, hence the torque and speed.
From a conceptual point of view the DC-link voltages are assumed fixed and steady at vdc1 = vdc2 =
vdc /2. This assumption holds in practice since the DC-link voltages are controlled and balanced by the
3L-NPC converter, and are considered decoupled variables for the 2L-VSCs. The ripple and harmonic
content in the DC-link voltages are considered un-modeled perturbations and are mitigated by the closed
loop of the generator control. Note that the 2L-VSCs are composed of low voltage switching devices
(mainly IGBTs), while the 3L-NPC is composed of medium-voltage devices (MV-IGBTs or IGCTs).
Pm
6
PMSG
m
2L-VSCs
3L-NPC
Grid
v, i
m
*m
Wind Speed
Sensor
vw
Topt
FOC
VOC
Gen. side
control
Grid side
control
Q*
rT
Fig. 2: Optimal tip speed ratio MPPT and simplified control diagram of the proposed WECS.
m
PI
m
iq
vq
PI
id
dqxy
vd
PI
ix
iy
PWM
vx
PI
PI
abc
def
vy
r
iy
Gate
signals
dqxy
ix
id
abc
def
iq
Sdef
r
m
Sabc
abc
6
iabcdef
6
PMSG
Filter
def
2-Level
VSC
id is set to zero during the whole analysis and simulation. The remaining current references for the x-y
components are also set to zero because they are source of stator Joule losses and do not contribute to the
torque production. Using these current references, the currents idqxy are then controlled with four independent inner loop PI controllers. The current loops generate the voltage references including standard
decoupling terms (feedforward) to the d-q components [7]. The dqxy components are then transformed
back to phase coordinates and modulated using carrier based sinusoidal pulse width modulation (PWM).
The modulation generates the gate signals for both VSCs (Sa , Sb , Sc and Sd , Sb , Sc ), which will produce
the desired control action on the generator. The phase currents of the PMSG are measured and fed back
to the PI controllers.
Grid side control
The counterpart of FOC for the grid tied converter is voltage oriented control (VOC). The control diagram
of VOC for the 3-level NPC is shown in Fig. 4. In this case the main difference with FOC is that the q and
d components of the grid currents are used to control the active and reactive power respectively. In turn,
the active power can be used as inner loop to control the DC-link capacitor voltage vdc = vdc1 + vdc2 .
For the particular case of the NPC converter, the control of the whole DC-link voltage does not ensure
proper balance of the neutral point, and therefore requires an additional voltage balancing strategy in the
modulation stage [6].
Reactive power can be directly controlled by the d current without the need of an outer loop and the
reference is set according to the WECS requirements. Modern grid codes not only forbid the consumption of reactive power during a voltage dip, but force wind parks to inject reactive power to improve
the voltage control at the point of common coupling (PCC). However, in this simulation normal operation is assumed, and the reactive power reference is set to zero to achieve unity power factor. Voltage
references are again transformed back to phase values and sent to the modulation stage. The modulation method used in this work is level-shifted PWM (LS-PWM) with neutral shift compensation using a
zero-sequence injection for capacitor voltage balance [13]. Finally, a phase locked loop (PLL) is used to
synchronize the orientation of the system coordinates with the measured grid voltages.
vdc1
vdc
vdc
PI
isq
vsa
vsb
vsq dq
PI
isd
vdc2
PI
vsd
abc
vsc
LS-PWM
+
dc-link
balance
s
isd
isq
Gate
signals
PLL
3-Level
NPC vs
dq
is
abc
Grid
Simulation results
A six-phase, 4MW, 26-pole PMSG has been considered in the simulations tests, carried out using PSIM
for the power electronics and electromechanical system and Matlab/Simulink for the control schemes.
The proposed WECS has been tested both in steady state and under dynamic conditions in order to
examine the performance of the configuration. All results are obtained with an average device switching
frequency of 1 kHz, a DC link voltage reference of 6000V and unity power factor.
Steady-state results
The generator state variables (dq-xy currents and rotor speed m ) and the machine-side phase currents
(iabc and idef ) in steady-state at rated wind speed of vw = 15m/s (rated mechanical torque Tm ) are shown
in Fig. 5. It can be noted that the d, x and y current components are near zero and the q current is closed
to the rated value, having in all current components a ripple lower that 3%. The q current follows the
reference provided by the speed controller that assures that the electrical torque follows the wind torque.
4000
id
iq
2000
0
2000
ix
iy
0
2000
30
2000
0
i abc
i def
2000
30
20
10
0
2.5
2.55
2.6
2.65
2.7
2.75
2.8
2.85
2.9
Time [s]
Fig. 5: Steady state results for the state space variables and phase currents of the PMSG.
The d current follows the reference set by the ZDC strategy and the x-y currents are close to zero to
minimized the stator copper losses. The rotor speed is close to the speed reference of 22.5 rpm provided
by the MPPT algorithm at a wind speed of 15 m/s. In spite of obtaining some ripple in the torque (q
current), the generator speed ripple can be neglected because the inertia of the turbine and generator
leads to very slow mechanical dynamics.
Dynamic results
The dynamic performance has been tested modifying the wind speed from 0.9 to 1pu, which implies
a change in power from 0.73 to 1pu (cubic relation). This change is reflected in a step change in the
turbine speed reference from 20.25 to 22.5rpm. The dynamic response of the generator side variables
are shown in Fig. 6. Note that before the step change at t=0.3s, the system is operating in steady state
with speed of 20.25rpm and the electrical torque matches the mechanical torque produced by the wind
(Te = Tm ). Fig. 6c also shows the two sets of three-phase currents shifted by 30o (same displacement of
stator windings). When the speed reference increases, the electric torque reference is saturated to zero,
to let the mechanical torque produce the acceleration of the turbine. The torque is not allowed to be
negative, since this would consume active power from the grid (it would reach the reference faster but it
would be less efficient). During this time all the currents of the generator are zero. Once the speed has
reached the reference, the torque builds up to the maximum allowed saturation and then reaches steady
state. Note that iq is the envelope of the phase current and is proportional to the torque. It experiences
an increase of about 27% as expected by the cubic relation between power and speed. The inertia of
the generator and turbine (J) has been lowered from original practical value in order to better represent
the whole dynamic behavior in a single plot (this does not affect performance, only the setting time of
speed).
The same time frame, under the same operating conditions is shown in Fig. 7 for the grid tied converter.
Note that during the machine acceleration the grid side converter is in steady-state since no power is
delivered to the DC-link by the generator. A time frame of this steady-state behavior has been omitted
to better show the grid variables during the transients, since the grid side operates at 50Hz which is at
higher frequency than the generator side (due to the number of poles). Note how the DC-link voltages are
kept balanced despite the perturbation during transient of power. The 3-level converter phase voltage and
the 5-level converter line-line voltage are of higher quality due to the extra space vectors provided by the
NPC (here operating at 1kHz switching frequency). The somewhat distorted voltage during transients
23
22
m
m*
21
20
20
15
10
Te
Te*
Tm
5
0
2000
0
i abc
-2000
0.2
0.3
0.4
i def
0.5
Time [s]
iq
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
Fig. 6: Generator dynamic response during wind speed step change: a) Mechanical speed, b) Mechanical and
electric torque, c) Generator currents.
4
2
vdc1
vdc2
0
5
0
vAo
-5
10
0
vAB
-10
2
0
-2
0.25
isq
iABC
0.3
0.35 0.65
Time [s]
0.7
0.75
Fig. 7: Dynamic response of grid connected 3L-NPC converter during a wind speed step change: a) dc-link
voltages, b) Converter output phase voltage, c) Converter line-line voltage, d) Grid currents. (Note: steady state
from 0.35-0.65[s] has been deleted for better appreciation.)
is the direct effect of transient DC link mismatch with the reference voltage. The grid currents appear
highly sinusoidal. They also show that no power is drawn during acceleration of the turbine (done by the
wind mechanical torque) and also show the increase of power injected to the grid once the new operating
point is reached. Again the quadrature current component of the grid isq is the envelope of the phase
currents and is proportional to the torque, being responsible for injecting all the active power of the wind
to the network. The reactive power is kept at all times close to zero since the d current reference is
zeroed.
Conclusion
A hybrid back-to-back WECS configuration based on six-phase PMSG has been presented to operate
at medium-voltage at grid side using standard low-voltage generators. Some advantages of the proposed topology include: the medium voltage operation provides enhanced power quality of the injected
grid-side currents in addition to benefits related to cable sizing, lower step-up voltage requirement and
increased efficiency. On the other hand the six-phase machine with the series connected 2L-VSCs splits
the power, elevates the voltage and provides a DC-link mid-point for the NPC grid-side converter.
In summary, the proposed configuration benefits from the inherent advantages of both multilevel converters and multiphase generators, leading to an attractive solution for multimegawatt WECS.
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