Structural optimization of wind energy power system

Abstract

This paper provides a comparative analysis between two turbine structures that differ only in the use of either a structure of permanent magnets generator with sinusoidal waveforms or its equivalent structure of permanent magnets generator with trapezoidal waveform. The design parameters of turbines using these two structures of generator are optimized by a developed Genetic Algorithm, in the goal to maximize the recovered power. Indeed, the comparison between the two wind turbines leads to the choice of the turbine using a trapezoidal waveform generator enabling an approximately 25% increase in recovered energy. This result represents the principal finding of this study. In addition, this study is completed by the analysis of the energy performance of the chosen wind turbine by the use of a booster chopper for recovered energy optimization. A braking system regulating the generator speed is added to these turbine structures. The braking system plays an important role in the protection of the turbine against over-currents and subsequently against the burning of the turbine considering, that the magnitude of the back electromotive forces increases depending on the elevation of the angular speed of the turbine. The overall study is validated by implementation of the studied models under SIMULINK simulation environment.