Application Test Rig DFIG-based Wind Energy Conversion System in RCP configuration

Figure 1.2 depicts a test rig of a Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS) for Rapid Control Prototyping that includes all the main components of the EC-2KW kit, whose features and specifications are covered in Chapter 2 of this guide.

A dynamometer (or AC servo-drive) (1) acting as a wind turbine emulator drives a Wind Rotor Induction Machine (WRIM or DFIG) (2) which in turn is controlled through a back-to-back power converter (3). Electrical (currents, voltages) and mechanical (angular position, speed) signals necessary for controlling the system are measured and conditioned by a Signal Conditioning Module (4).

The conditioned signals are processed by a Real-Time Simulator (RTS) (5) programmed with the control algorithm under test. Said control algorithm is uploaded to the RTS through a so-called host computer (6) that runs both RTS’ software (7) and the modeling and control software environment (8) in which the control algorithm is developed.

Additionally, as also shown in Figure 1.2, the RTS can generate a wind profile characteristic that controls the operation of the dynamometer so that the {test rig/set-up/wind emulator} can replicate the operation of a WECS in Maximum Power Point Tracking Mode (MPPT). The dynamometer is operated either through a torque or speed reference command transmitted by the RTS through an asynchronous communication interface (9). The communication interface can also be employed to read and configure any other parameter important for the control of the DFIG-based WECS emulator.