Certification of Load Assumptions for Wind Turbines during Voltage Dips

in the Electrical Network

Authors: D. Rami, N.Hille, F. Martin

Contact: nikolai.hille@gl-group.com, Tel. +49-40-36149 7058

GL Renewables Certification. Germanischer Lloyd Industrial Services GmbH,

Business Segment Wind Energy. Brooktorkai 18, 20457 Hamburg, Germany

I. INTRODUCTION

Nowadays WT connected to electrical network have to fulfil

ABSTRACT
This paper makes an approach to calculate the load assumptions
of wind turbines (WT) during Low Voltage Ride Through
(LVRT) cases. A suitable simulation environment is
implemented in order to investigate the load behavior of WT
during voltage dips in the electrical network. Sets with typical
voltage dips at the CP are defined and the resulting load cases
are simulated. The loads of the WT are evaluated according
extreme and fatigue load level. For the calculation of fatigue
loads, a simplified method is derived in order to reduce the
required extent of simulation time.
Certification of the load assumptions comprising LVRT cases is
proposed to account for such influences in the design of WT.
certain requirements of the system operators. The so-called grid
codes define conditions according to which WT have to remain
connected to the electrical network in the case of network
failures [1], [2], [3]. In order to fulfil the requirements, the main
focus has been laid on the implementation of the electrical
equipment and control features. The consequences of these new
features on the mechanical loads have been partly neglected.
Various guidelines, for example DIN EN 50160 [5], describe
characteristics of the voltage quality in the electrical network
and set parameters and standards which guaranty a minimal
quality of the supplied voltage in the electrical network.
Especially voltage dips can distort the electrical network and
consequently affect the behavior of the WT during these
transient failures.

The results of such failures are higher transient currents in the

KEY WORDS:
Low Voltage Ride Through LVRT, voltage dip, transient high
current, air gap torque, occurrence per year, EN50160,
extreme load, fatigue load, certification.
stator- and rotor windings of the electrical machine, which cause
load peaks at the air gap torque of the machine. Depending on
the control and protection strategies of the WT, these torque
peaks will be transmitted to the drive train and other mechanical
components of the WT. Extreme loads in the WT caused by
voltage dips in the electrical network are identified by variation
of the characteristics of the voltage dips. The influence on the
fatigue loads is investigated by variation of the number of
occurrence of voltage dips per year. To calculate that, a
distribution by dip level and duration of the voltage dips is
implemented according [5].

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 II. VOLTAGE DIPS IN THE ELECTRICAL NETWORK

The ideal technical shape of the voltage supplied is sinusoidal

and has a frequency of 50 or 60 Hz, depending on the
geographic location. If this waveshape of the voltage
unwantedly changes its symmetry, amplitude, frequency or
phase, if it exhibits indentations, pulses and resonance peaks or
if it falls to zero (even for a short time interval) a fault in the
electrical network is concluded. The origin lies in the
commercial supply network, where its kilometers of
transmission lines not only are exposed to weather influences
such as hurricanes, thunderstorms, snow and ice loads and
floods, but also have to withstand equipment failures, accidents
and large switching events. Even locally, i.e. within a plant, a
variety of conditions, such as the actual design, large startup
loads may lead to a loss of the voltage quality in the network.
Such events could cause a change of the effective voltage
(RMS-value) in the one-, two- or all three-phases of the
network. The duration might vary from a few milliseconds up to
hours. Voltage dips are short falls or a total loss of the effective
voltage for a short period of time. They are characterized by the
duration and the remaining voltage. The latter is usually Fig. 1: Characteristics of voltage dips at the Connection Point
expressed as a percentage of the nominal RMS voltage that caused by disturbance in different location of the network.
remains at the lowest point of the break-in. Voltage dips are
classified as stochastic events and are not always predictable
[5]. A network failure caused in the PLANT1 at the position FP1
affects all consumers at the CP1 with a voltage dip of 0% dip
The reliability of the electrical utilities in the deregulated level, and 50% for all others at the CP2 and CP3. A failure at
markets is only partly being investigated. In some countries (e.g. the position FP3, leads to dip level of 0% at CP3, of 65% at CP2
Great Britain) only the "lost customer’s minutes" are being and of 90% at CP1.
counted, and only interruptions are taken into account which Failures at PLANT1 affect more consumers and much stronger
exceeds a period of usually one minute. Reclosing equipments compared to a failure caused at PLANT3. The consumers that
(so-called autorecloser) may improve this situation, but on the are connected in the level of PLANT3 experienced much more
other hand they increase the number of voltage dips. If the voltage dips than those connected to the PLANT1, because there
failure while trying to reclose the circuit is still not removed, the are more potential failure spots. Furthermore, they are both
reclosing equipment reacts again. This process can be repetitive affected by the failures at PLANT1 and PLANT2. Consumers in
according to its programming and cause a series of voltage dips. PLANT1 and PLANT2 are increasingly less vulnerable to
network failures at PLANT3.
Voltage dips have to be withstood, while the WT are not always
allowed to be disconnected from the electrical network [1], [2],
[3]. Furthermore, the exchange rate with the supply network of
the active and reactive power is defined by the network
operator, depending on the level and the duration of the voltage
dip at the Connection Point (CP) of the WT. Hence, the transient III. DESCRIPTION OF METHODS
high currents and the electromagnetic torque in the air gap of the
generator caused by voltage dips are influenced. A simplified grid model and a WT model comprising a
transformer, electrical machine and control strategies for
The WT experience dip levels, dip durations and occurrence standard and LVRT operations are modeled and tested using
frequency of the voltage dips at the CP caused by a disturbance MATLAB/Simulink and SimPowerSystems (Fig. 2).
in another location of the electrical network. This depends on Furthermore a slip chlutch, simplified as a torque-limiter in the
the topology of the network, the relative short circuit-impedance high-speed shaft is included.
of the fault, the load and the generators connected to the
The drive train is modeled as a two point mass system including
common point of delivery. This is illustrated by using a simple
discrete damper and stiffness in the load analysis software GH
example in Fig. 1 at three different Connection Points (CP1,
Bladed. The interaction between model components
CP2 and CP3), which are connected at the Points of Common
implemented in MATLAB and GH Bladed is realized using a
Coupling PCC1, PCC2 and PCC3 from voltage PLANT1,
bidirectional DLL interface.
voltage PLANT2 and voltage PLANT3 of the supply network.

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 In Figure 3b, a profile of the modeled voltage dips at the CP is
shown. In order to take into account a time delay after the end of
the failure for voltage recovery, the rise time in all voltage dip
cases is set to 10ms. This is caused by transients in the
switching devices of the network.

IV. SIMULATION RESULTS AND LOAD INVESTIGATIONS

Fig. 4 presents the resulting electrical power and rotor currents

during a three-phase voltage dip at the CP at time t=1s (dip level
at 10% of nominal voltage, duration of 0.7s, wind speed 12m/s).
MATLAB/ DLL - File Load simulation software
Furthermore, the rotational speed and torque of the low-speed
shaft (LSS) and high-speed shaft (HSS) are illustrated.
Fig. 2: Simulation environment used in LVRT load analysis.
a)
Load cases with one-, two- and three-phase voltage dips are
defined at the CP (Fig. 3). For each of these types of voltage
dips, the dip level is varied from 85% to 5% of the nominal
voltage and the duration from 0.1 s to 1.5 s respectively. By that
matrices with different voltage dips (load cases) are defined.

b)

c)

Fig. 3: Voltage dips and load cases defined to analyze the LVRT loads.
d)
For all these cases of voltage dips, load simulations with
constant wind speeds of 6 m/s up to 26 m/s are simulated. The
requirements of the network operator [1] for the electrical
behavior of the WT (active power, reactive power and currents)
are met during the simulations for all voltage dips investigated.

Time series from all simulated load cases are considered to

verify the extreme loads. For the calculation of the fatigue loads,
the number of occurrence per year and the distribution
according to dip levels and durations of voltage dips in the
Fig. 4: Electrical power, rotor currents, rotational speed and torque of
network are taken into account.
the HSS and the LSS during a three-phase voltage dip
with ground at the CP.

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As shown in the simulation results for HSS (Fig. 4d), the peak
of the torque transmitted to the HSS is limited through the slip
clutch at the HSS. The investigations show, that this limitation
has no influence on the peak torque transmitted to the LSS. The
lower frequency vibration at the HSS, excited by the duration of
the dip (e.g. 0.7s), is transmitted much stronger to the LSS, than
the high frequency vibrations caused at the network voltage
frequency of 50Hz.
Extreme loads
In order to investigate the extreme load for the torque Mx at the
LSS, the simulation results of all load cases defined in the
matrices in Fig. 3 are evaluated. It can be noticed that for the
system investigated, the highest extreme load level is caused by
a three-phase voltage dip near rated wind speed.
Fatigue loads
The damage equivalent load for the torque Mx at the LSS is
calculated by taking into account all defined voltage dips
according to two different distributions. The first one results
from the standard EN50160 (Fig. 6a) and applies the approach
that emphasizes voltage dips with duration less than 1s and a dip
level greater than 40% of the nominal voltage. The second one
fulfills the EN50160 and is adapted in a way so that voltage dips
with a high dip level and short duration are more frequent (Fig.
6b).
a) According EN 50160 b) Assumed distribution
1.08 1.0

Fig. 5 presents resulting maxima of the LSS torque Mx for all 0.54 0.1
0.0
defined cases in the three-phase voltage dip matrix from the
Fig.3 (constant wind speed of 12m/s). It is shown that the
maximum value of the torque increases with decreasing level of
the voltage dip. The profile is influenced by the implemented
WT-specific controller and protection strategies for cases of
“longer” voltage dips. This influence depends on the level and
duration of the dip as well as the wind speed.

The simulation result shows that with variation of the duration,

vibration frequencies close to the first eigenfrequency of the
drive train are met. The global maximum torque Mx at the LSS
is established by the voltage dip with the lowest level, and a
duration which corresponds approximately the ½ period of the
drive train 1st eigenfrequency (marked red in Fig. 5).
Fig. 6: a, b. Distributions of voltage dips in dip levels and durations.
Fig. 7 show the percentage increase of the damage equivalent
fatigue load of the LSS rotor torque for these two distributions
of voltage dips, in an observed time interval of 20 years. The
frequency of occurrence of voltage dips per year was
investigated up to a number of 300.

Increase of damage equivalent torque M x in [%]

Number of voltage dips per year [-]

Fig. 5: Maximum of torque at the LSS during voltage dips

(as function of dip levels and durations), Fig. 7: Damage equivalent torque Mx comprising voltage dip events
related to the value without voltage dip. in relation to the damage equivalent torque Mx without
voltage dips (m=4, m=6 and m=10).

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 Calculation of LVRT fatigue loads with one single load case
A simplification for the calculation of LVRT fatigue loads is
suggested. According to this approach the fatigue equivalent
load is calculated applying only one representative load case
from Fig. 3a. By that the efforts to calculate the load cases of the
complete voltage dip matrix are safed. In the following this
representative load case is derived.
The equivalent loads (here m=4) on the LSS separately caused
by each element of the voltage dip matrix from a three-phase
voltage dip at wind speed 12m/s (Fig. 3a) are determined. For
each equivalent load calculated an occurrence frequency of 100
times per year is accounted for. The results achieved are
graphically presented in Fig. 8 by the blue profile.
In the next step the same time series of all elements of the
voltage dip matrix are evaluated altogether to achieve one value
of the equivalent load for the whole set of voltage dips. Here the
distribution according to EN50160 (Fig. 6a) is applied. As the
result is one significant value, the equivalent load Mx is shown
in Fig. 8 as the pink plane.
Wherever the pink plane intersects with the blue profile, the
respective load level is identical.
Fig. 8: Selection of one load case to use in the calculation
the of LVRT loads.
To appoint the representative load case the intersection is
chosen arbitrarily for the condition that the duration of the
voltage dip equals ½ of the period of the 1st eigenfrequency of
the drive train as discussed above. In the example given die
representative load case is therewith found for a dip level of
47% of the nominal voltage.
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V. CONCLUSIONS
Due to the load increments found for the example case GL
recommends to investigate the influence of LVRT cases on the
load assumptions. The actual load level depends very much on
the concept of the individual WT, especially of the control
strategies during voltage dips.
The load level of the WT further on depends very much on the
voltage dip matrix (dip level, duration and number of dips per
year). Further investigations on an appropriate estimation of this
information is required since such information is often missing
for specific WT sites.
To improve the results and the understanding of the system
more detailed modeling of the drive train, especially at high
speed shaft is necessary.
The approach for the calculation of LVRT loads is a strong
simplification and so far was only applied for fatigue equivalent
loads. Investigations on the impact on e.g. Markov matrices or
load duration distributions are required. Before application a
validation has to be performed.
VI. CERTIFICATION
GL recommends including the voltage dip load cases into the
load certification procedure. The new GL Guideline Edition
2010 offers the optional load case DLC9.2 where voltage dips
are taken into account. The WT manufacturer can choose a set
of voltage dip load cases to be added to the load calculation.
They account for an assumed envelope of grid conditions at the
site where the WT may be erected. The considered voltage dip
load cases (voltage dip matrix) will be stated in the load
Certification Report. During site specific load assessment the
envelope can be compared to actual site conditions. Upon
manufacturer’s choice LVRT features of the WT can be subject
to further assessment of the components with respect to the A-
Design Assessment.
REFERENCES
[1]. “Network and System Rules of the German Transmission System
Operators”, Transmission Code 2003, VDN.
[2]. “Grid connection of wind turbines to networks with voltages below
100 kV, Regulation TF 3.2.6”,
May 2004, EnergiNet.
[3]. “Grid connection of wind turbines to networks with voltages above
100 kV, Regulation TF 3.2.5”, December 2004, EnergiNet.
[4]. “Guideline for the Certification of Wind Turbines”, Edition 2010,
Germanischer Lloyd Renewables Certification.
[5]. “EN 50160 Voltage characteristics of electricity supplied by public
distribution systems”, 2006, Deutsche Kommission Elektrotechnik
Informationstechnik im DIN und VDE.