Evaluating reduced models of aggregated different doubly fed induction generator wind turbines for transient stabilities studies

For the representation of wind farms in transient stability studies of electrical power systems, reduced models based on aggregating identical wind turbines are commonly used. In the case of a wind farm with different wind turbines coupled to the same grid connection point, it is usual to aggregate identical wind turbines operating in similar conditions into an equivalent one. However, in the existing literature, there are not any references to the aggregation of different wind turbines (same wind turbine technology but different rated power or components) into a single one. This paper presents a comparative study of four reduced models for aggregating different DFIG wind turbines, experiencing different incoming winds, into an equivalent model. The first of them is the classical clustering model, in which each equivalent model experiences an equivalent wind. The other reduced models have the same equivalent generation system but different equivalent mechanical systems. Thus, the second and third ones are compound models with a clustering aggregated mechanical system and individual simplified models, respectively, to approximate the individual mechanical power according to the incoming wind speeds. The fourth is a mixed model that uses an equivalent wind speed, which is applied to an equivalent mechanical system (equivalent rotor and drive train) in order to approximate the mechanical power of the aggregated wind turbines. The equivalent models are validated by means of comparison with the complete model of the wind farm when simulated under wind fluctuations and grid disturbances. Finally, recommendations with regard to the applicability of models are established. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Aggregated dynamic model for wind farms with doubly fed induction generator wind turbines

As a result of increasing wind farms penetration in power systems, the wind farms begin to influence power system, and thus the modelling of wind farms has become an interesting research topic. Nowadays, doubly fed induction generator based on wind turbine is the most widely used technology for wind farms due to its main advantages such as high-energy efficiency and controllability, and improved power quality. When the impact of a wind farm on power systems is studied, the behavior of the wind farm at the point common coupling to grid can be represented by an equivalent model derived from the aggregation of wind turbines into an equivalent wind turbine, instead of the complete model including the modelling of all the wind turbines. In this paper, a new equivalent model of wind farms with doubly fed induction generator wind turbines is proposed to represent the collective response of the wind farm by one single equivalent wind turbine, even although the aggregated wind turbines operate receiving different incoming winds. The effectiveness of the equivalent model to represent the collective response of the wind farm is demonstrated by comparing the simulation results of equivalent and complete models both during normal operation and grid disturbances.     

Aggregated models of permanent magnet synchronous generators wind farms

This paper evaluates the responses of three aggregated models of a wind farm consisting of variable speed permanent magnet synchronous generator wind turbines when wind fluctuations or grid disturbances occur. These responses are compared with those of the detailed wind farm model, in order to verify the effectiveness of the studied aggregation methods for this type of wind farms. The equivalent wind farm models have been developed by adapting different aggregation criteria that already exist in technical literature and had been applied to other technologies. In this work, these methods have been modified to suit them to the permanent magnet synchronous generator technology. The results show that the three aggregated models provide very similar results to the detailed model, both in the evolution of active power when fluctuations in wind speed occur, and in the active power and DC-link voltage during the two simulated voltage dips. Notably, the aggregated model with an approximate mechanical torque offers excellent results.     

基于偏航尾流模型的风电场功率协同优化研究

为减小风电场尾流效应的影响,提升风电场整体发电量,提出一种基于偏航尾流模型的风电场功率协同优化方法。首先建立风电场偏航尾流模型,该模型包括用于计算单机组尾流速度分布的Jensen-Gaussian尾流模型、尾流偏转模型及多机组尾流叠加模型,对各机组风轮前来流风速进行求解;再根据来流风速计算风电场输出功率,并以风电场整体输出功率最大为优化目标,利用拟牛顿算法协同优化各机组轴向诱导因子和偏航角度。以4行4列方形布置的16台NREL-5 MW风电机组为对象进行仿真研究。结果表明,所提出的基于偏航尾流模型的风电场功率协同优化方法能显著提升风电场整体输出功率。     

An experimental investigation on the wake interferences among wind turbines sited in aligned and staggered wind farms

An experimental investigation was conducted for a better understanding of the wake interferences among wind turbines sited in wind farms with different turbine layout designs. Two different types of inflows were generated in an atmospheric boundary layer wind tunnel to simulate the different incoming surface winds over typical onshore and offshore wind farms. In addition to quantifying the power outputs and dynamic wind loads acting on the model turbines, the characteristics of the wake flows inside the wind farms were also examined quantitatively. After adding turbines staggered between the first 2 rows of an aligned wind farm to increase the turbine number density in the wind farm, the added staggered turbines did not show a significant effect on the aeromechanical performance of the downstream turbines for the offshore case. However, for the onshore case, while the upstream staggered turbines have a beneficial effect on the power outputs of the downstream turbines, the fatigue loads acting on the downstream turbines were also found to increase considerably due to the wake effects induced by the upstream turbines. With the same turbine number density and same inflow characteristics, the wind turbines were found to be able to generate much more power when they are arranged in a staggered layout than those in an aligned layout. In addition, the characteristics of the dynamic wind loads acting on the wind turbines sited in the aligned layout, including the fluctuation amplitudes and power spectrum, were found to be significantly different from those with staggered layout.     

Modelling wind farms for grid disturbance studies

This paper analyses the simplest representation of generators on wind turbine modelling, giving the accuracy required in power system disturbance studies. The order of the generator model and the numerical integration methods employed are compared.To avoid the use of a detailed model of a wind farm, several aggregated models can be found in the literature. This paper analyses the influence of the wind farm internal network in the accuracy of the results and proposes a new equivalent model to represent the dynamic response of wind farms. The proposed aggregated model considers a weighted average where the transported power is used as weighting factor in order to ameliorate the accuracy on grid disturbance simulations.     

Time‐adaptive wind turbine model for an LES framework

Most large‐eddy simulation studies related to wind energy have been carried out either by using a fixed pressure gradient to ensure that mean wind direction is perpendicular to the wind turbine rotor disk or by forcing the flow with a geostrophic wind and timely readjusting the turbines' orientation. This has not allowed for the study of wind farm characteristics with a time‐varying wind vector. In this paper, a new time‐adaptive wind turbine model for the large‐eddy simulation framework is introduced. The new algorithm enables the wind turbines to dynamically realign with the incoming wind vector and self‐adjust the yaw orientation with the incoming wind vector similar to real wind turbines. The performance of the new model is tested first with a neutrally stratified atmospheric flow forced with a time‐varying geostrophic wind vector. A posteriori, the new model is used to further explore the interaction between a synthetic time‐changing thermal atmospheric boundary layer and an embedded wind farm. Results show that there is significant potential power to be harvested during the unstable time periods at the cost of designing wind turbines capable of adapting to the enhanced variance of these periods. Stable periods provide less power but are more constant over time with an enhanced lateral shear induced by an increased change in wind direction with height. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Applying power quality characteristics of wind turbines for assessing impact on voltage quality

Injection of wind power into an electric grid affects the voltage quality. As the voltage quality must be within certain limits to comply with utility requirements, the effect should be assessed prior to installation. To assess the effect, knowledge about the electrical characteristics of the wind turbines is needed or else the result could easily be an inappropriate design of the grid connection. The electrical characteristics of wind turbines are manufacturer‐specific but not site‐specific. This means that, having the actual parameter values for a specific wind turbine, the expected impact of the wind turbine type on voltage quality when deployed at a specific site, possibly as a group of wind turbines, can be calculated. The methodology for this is explained and illustrated by case studies considering a 5 × 750 kW wind farm on a 22 kV distribution feeder. The detailed analysis suggests that the wind farm capacity can be operated at the grid without causing unacceptable voltage quality. For comparison, a simplified design criterion is considered assuming that the wind farm is only allowed to cause a voltage increment of 1%. According to this criterion, only a very limited wind power capacity would be allowed. Measurements confirm, however, the suggestion of the detailed analysis, and it is concluded that a simplified design criterion such as the ‘1% rule’ should not be used for dimensioning the grid connection of wind farms. Rather, this article suggests a systematic approach including assessment of slow voltage variations, flicker, voltage dips and harmonics, possibly supported by more detailed analyses, e.g. system stability if the wind farm is large or the grid is very weak, and impact on grid frequency in systems where wind power covers a high fraction of the load, i.e. most relevant for isolated systems. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Active power variation in wind farms by varying the number of wind turbine units

Aggregated representation of wind turbine units in the wind farm has been normally adopted for modelling and analysis of dynamic performance, with power variation obtained by change of wind speed in the literature. This paper presents a different scenario of power variation of wind farms by the addition and removal of turbines in wind farms and its implication in modelling and stability of wind farms. The steady-state and dynamic stability with the aggregated model of the wind farm has been analysed with variation in the number of turbine units and has been corroborated with time domain simulation in DIgSILENT Power Factory software. It has been concluded that the variation in the number of wind turbines generators connected to the same transmission line has a minimal impact on the stability in nonseries-compensated line; however, significant impact on the stability has been observed in series-compensated system.     

Optimal placement of wind turbines within a wind farm considering multi-directional wind speed using two-stage genetic algorithm

Most wind turbines within wind farms are set up to face a pre-determined wind direction. However, wind directions are intermittent in nature, leading to less electricity production capacity. This paper proposes an algorithm to solve the wind farm layout optimization problem considering multi-angular (MA) wind direction with the aim of maximizing the total power generated on wind farms and minimizing the cost of installation. A two-stage genetic algorithm (GA) equipped with complementary sampling and uniform crossover is used to evolve a MA layout that will yield optimal output regardless of the wind direction. In the first stage, the optimal wind turbine layouts for 8 different major wind directions were determined while the second stage allows each of the previously determined layouts to compete and inter-breed so as to evolve an optimal MA wind farm layout. The proposed MA wind farm layout is thereafter compared to other layouts whose turbines have focused site specific wind turbine orientation. The results reveal that the proposed wind farm layout improves wind power production capacity with minimum cost of installation compared to the layouts with site specific wind turbine layouts. This paper will find application at the planning stage of wind farm.     

Wind model for low frequency power fluctuations in offshore wind farms

This paper investigates the correlation between the frequency components of the wind speed Power Spectral Density. The results extend an already existing power fluctuation model that can simulate power fluctuations of wind power on areas up to several kilometers and for time scales up to a couple of hours, taking into account the spectral correlation between different wind turbines. The modelling is supported by measurements from two large wind farms, namely Nysted and Horns Rev. Measurements from individual wind turbines and meteorological masts are used. Finally, the models are integrated into an aggregated model which is used for estimating some electrical parameters as power ramps and reserves requirements, showing a quite good agreement between simulations and measurement. The comparison with measurements generally show that the inclusion of the correlation between low frequency components is an improvement, but the effect is relatively small. The effect of including the low frequency components in the model is much more significant. Therefore, that aggregated model is useful in the power system planning and operation, e.g. regarding load following and regulation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

不同类型漂浮式风电场内机组塔基载荷研究

构建基于NREL 5 MW 风电机组的海上固定式风电场和不同类型的漂浮式风电场,考虑不同类型风电机组尾流特性、平台漂浮特性的差异,在不同工况下对风电场内机组动力学响应进行仿真计算。通过时域分析与箱线图分析,对风电场内各位置处机组在风、浪、尾流联合作用下的塔基载荷进行对比研究。结果表明：在相同工况下,Spar式风电场内机组风轮与平台位移值、塔基载荷在来流方向上最大;在中低风速下,风电场内机组塔基载荷相差较大;高风速时,塔基载荷相近;随着风速的增大,漂浮式机组塔基载荷呈先增大后减小的规律。     

Aggregate modelling of wind farms containing full-converter wind turbine generators with permanent magnet synchronous machines: transient stability studies

When the transient interaction between a large wind farm and a power system is to be studied, there are two possible approaches to wind farm modelling. It can be modelled as one or more equivalent wind turbine generators (aggregate modelling) or each wind turbine generator (WTG) can be modelled separately (detailed modelling). When a power system with many wind farms is to be simulated, the aggregate approach becomes especially attractive. A successful aggregate model will reduce the simulation time without significantly compromising the accuracy of the results in comparison to the detailed model. Here, the aggregate modelling options for a wind farm with 5 MW full-converter WTGs (FCWTGs) using permanent magnet synchronous machines are presented. A braking resistor in the DC circuit of the FCWTG?s converter system is employed as a means of satisfying the latest grid code requirements. It will be shown that with a braking resistor implemented in the FCWTG there is scope for significant model simplifications, which is particularly relevant for transient stability studies of large-scale systems.     

The flow in the induction and entrance regions of lab-scale wind farms

With the increasing demand for wind energy, it is important to be able to understand and predict the available wind resources. To that end, the present wind tunnel study addresses the flow in the induction and entrance region of wind farms through particle image velocimetry, with focus on differences between actuator disks and two-bladed rotating wind turbine models. Both staggered and aligned farm layouts are examined for three different incoming wind directions. For each layout, 69 disks or turbines are used, and the field of view ranges from 12 rotor diameters upstream of the farms to 8 diameters downstream of the first row. The results show that the induction, or blockage effect, is higher for the disks, even though the thrust (or drag) coefficient is the same. In contrast, the wake is stronger downstream of the turbines. The orientation and layout of the farm do not have a major impact on the results. Modal decomposition of the flow shows that the flow structure similarity between the disk and turbines improves downstream of the second row of wake generating objects, indicating that the substitution of wind turbines by actuator disks is more appropriate for wind farms than for the investigation of single wakes.     

Validation of a double fed induction generator wind turbine model and wind farm verification following the Spanish grid code

Wind turbine manufacturers are required by transmission system operators for fault ride‐through capability as the penetration of wind energy in the electrical systems grows. For this reason, testing and modeling of wind turbines and wind farms are required by the national grid codes to verify the fulfillment of this capability. Therefore, wind turbine models are required to simulate the evolution of voltage, current, reactive and active power during faults. The simulation results obtained from these wind turbine models are used for verification, validation and certification against the real wind turbines measurement results, although evolution of electrical variables during the fault and its clearance is not easy to fulfill. The purpose of this paper is to show the different stages involved in the fulfillment of the procedure of operation for fault ride‐through capability of the Spanish national grid code (PO 12.3) and the ‘procedure for verification, validation and certification of the requirements of the PO 12.3 on the response of wind farms in the event of voltage dips’. The process has been applied to a wind farm composed of Gamesa G52 wind turbines, and the results obtained are presented. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A comparison of methods for assessing power output in non‐uniform onshore wind farms

Wind resource assessments are used to estimate a wind farm's power production during the planning process. It is important that these estimates are accurate, as they can impact financing agreements, transmission planning, and environmental targets. Here, we analyze the challenges in wind power estimation for onshore farms. Turbine wake effects are a strong determinant of farm power production. With given input wind conditions, wake losses typically cause downstream turbines to produce significantly less power than upstream turbines. These losses have been modeled extensively and are well understood under certain conditions. Most notably, validation of different model types has favored offshore farms. Models that capture the dynamics of offshore wind conditions do not necessarily perform equally as well for onshore wind farms. We analyze the capabilities of several different methods for estimating wind farm power production in 2 onshore farms with non‐uniform layouts. We compare the Jensen model to a number of statistical models, to meteorological downscaling techniques, and to using no model at all. We show that the complexities of some onshore farms result in wind conditions that are not accurately modeled by the Jensen wake decay techniques and that statistical methods have some strong advantages in practice.     

大型失速型风力发电机动态特性研究

通过分析主动失速型机组的来流风速、气动、机械传动与发电机等部件的机理,建立了机组各主要部件的子系统模型(如气动模型、传动模型、发电机暂态模型、补偿电容模型、电网模型和控制系统模型等),近而得到了全系统的动态非线性模型。通过对机组全系统动态机理模型的数字仿真,得到机组在特定来流工况条件下的动态特性。所建立的模型和仿真结果为今后研究风电场与电网之间的相互影响提供了理论基础。     

Using nacelle‐based wind speed observations to improve power curve modeling for wind power forecasting

Wind power forecasting for projection times of 0–48 h can have a particular value in facilitating the integration of wind power into power systems. Accurate observations of the wind speed received by wind turbines are important inputs for some of the most useful methods for making such forecasts. In particular, they are used to derive power curves relating wind speeds to wind power production. By using power curve modeling, this paper compares two types of wind speed observations typically available at wind farms: the wind speed and wind direction measurements at the nacelles of the wind turbines and those at one or more on‐site meteorological masts (met masts). For the three Australian wind farms studied in this project, the results favor the nacelle‐based observations despite the inherent interference from the nacelle and the blades and despite calibration corrections to the met mast observations. This trend was found to be stronger for wind farm sites with more complex terrain. In addition, a numerical weather prediction (NWP) system was used to show that, for the wind farms studied, smaller single time‐series forecast errors can be achieved with the average wind speed from the nacelle‐based observations. This suggests that the nacelle‐average observations are more representative of the wind behavior predicted by an NWP system than the met mast observations. Also, when using an NWP system to predict wind farm power production, it suggests the use of a wind farm power curve based on nacelle‐average observations instead of met mast observations. Further, it suggests that historical and real‐time nacelle‐average observations should be calculated for large wind farms and used in wind power forecasting. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

风电场中多台风力机的数值模拟

将NREL 5 MW风力机作为基本机型,使用致动线模型和大涡模拟相结合的数值方法,在中性大气边界层中模拟含有多台风力机的风电场。为了模拟风电场的复杂入流条件,首先模拟体积为3000 m(长)×3000 m(宽)×1000m(高)的大气边界层,并对模拟结果进行验证,结果表明:在覆盖逆温层以下,不同高度处的位温不变,平均风速满足剪切特性,脉动风速满足湍流谱特性;然后,分析了致动线模型中风轮直径上的网格节点数量(N)和高斯分布因子(ε)的取值规律,发现ε以网格尺度(η)为自变量取值时,N越大,η的系数越大,当N取63时,η的系数可取2或3,但N取25时,η只能取1.2;最后,使用致动线模型在大气边界层中布置8台风力机,模拟风电场,并对风力机间的相互干扰进行分析,发现第一排风力机功率明显大于其他风力机功率输出,占风场总功率输出的40.3%。     

Windstorm risk assessment for offshore wind farms in the North Sea

The North Sea is becoming increasingly attractive to wind energy developers and investors, with 38 wind farms belonging to five different countries and representing over€35 billion of assets. Concerns about offshore wind turbines being damaged by extreme windstorms pose a challenge to insurers, investors and regulators. Catastrophe modeling can adequately quantify the risk. In this study, a Monte Carlo simulation approach is used to assess the number of turbines that buckle using maximum wind speeds reaching each wind farm. Damage assessment is undertaken for each wind farm using a log‐logistic damage function and a left‐truncated Weibull distribution. The risk to offshore wind power in the North Sea is calculated using an exceedance probability (EP) curve for the portfolio of wind farms. The European Union Solvency II directive requires insurance companies to hold sufficient capital to guard against insolvency. The solvency capital requirement (SCR) is based on a value‐at‐risk measure calibrated to a 99.5% confidence level over a 1‐year time horizon. The SCR is estimated at €0.049 billion in the case of yawing turbines. Simulations are repeated for different climate change scenarios. If wind speeds grow by 5% and the frequency of storms increases by 40%, the SCR is seen to rise substantially to €0.264 billion. Relative to the total value of assets, the SCR is 0.14% compared with 0.08% for European property, confirming that these wind farm assets represent a relatively high risk. Furthermore, climate change could increase the relative SCR to levels as high as 0.75%.