Small to medium rating (up to 25 kW) wind generators are usually used in stand-alone generation-battery systems in remote areas where the cost of transmitting energy is prohibitive. Wind-energy generating systems, operating at variable-speed, need power electronic converters in order to achieve best wind energy exploitation. Selection of the most suitable converter topology for wind energy generating systems depends on the medium amount of wind available, the user devices voltage level, the sizing and the number of semiconductor and passive power components used in the electronic converter. This paper deals with prototypal generating systems composed of direct-drive PM synchronous generator, diode bridge rectifier, d.c.-d.c. converter and storage battery. Different d.c.-d.c. converter topologies are analyzed: first theoretical investigations highlight the clear superiority of step-up converter and step-down converter with respect to the other topologies. Computer simulations allowed an exhaustive investigation of both the step-up and the step-down converter configurations. Experimental comparison between different power electronic converter topologies for wind-energy generation was achieved during the carried out laboratory tests on a prototypal system.
| Filename: | EPE Journal - 12-2 - 6 - Paper Solero |
| Filesize: | 1.004 MB |
