Variable-speed wind turbines are a promising concept for large offshore wind farms. The variable-speed concept can be realised with multi-pole synchronous generators (MPSG) excited by permanent magnets. The main advantages of this concept are that (i) the wind turbines are gearless and (ii) the electrical excitation system is replaced by permanent magnets. The electromagnetic construction of the permanent magnet generators (PMG) is, however, more complex than in conventional concept generators. The PMG are grid-connected through and controlled by their frequency converters. The converter control can be used to stabilise the large wind farm at transient events in the grid to complete the grid specifications of the power system controllers. This article gives an overview of the structural concepts of PMG and explains modelling details of the PMG and their frequency converters.
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