OPTIMISED POWER FLOW ON WIND POWER PLANTS WITH THE

DOUBLY FED INDUCTION GENERATOR

Balduino Rabelo, M.Sc. Wilfried Hofmann, Prof. Dr.
Chemnitz Technical University
Faculty of Electrical Engineering
Department of Electrical Machines and Drives
Reichenhainerstrasse 70
09127 Chemnitz Germany
Tel: +49 371 5313586/3323 Fax: +49 371 5313324
email: balduino.rabelo@s1999.tu-chemnitz.de wilfried.hofmann@e-technik.tu-chemnitz.de
http://www.tu-chemnitz.de
Abstract. Abstract In this work the efficiency of the electrical part of a wind generation system is
studied. A wound rotor induction machine is used with two back-to-back converters on the rotor
circuit in an slip power recovery scheme. The slip control results in an operating speed range that
suits the wind energy generation requirements. The vector-controlled doubly fed induction generator
(DFIG) enables the decoupling between active and reactive power as well as between torque and
power factor. The losses in the machine copper and those originating in the converters are calculated
and a loci of the optimal points inside the operation range is derived. Therefore, besides the optimal
speed tracking for maximal wind energy conversion, an optimal control strategy for the two
converters is developed. This strategy aims to minimise the electrical losses and is based on the
control of the reactive power flow of the system. The harmonic losses as well as those of the core and
the LC-filter have not been taken into consideration.
Keywords: Renewable energy systems, induction machines, SVC (static Var compensation),
optimisation.
1. INTRODUCTION
The wound rotor induction machine presents some
advantages in its use as a generator in wind power plants as
described in [1]. From an economical point of view, in the
case of wind generation, the losses on the system play an
important role. In an induction machine the efficiency is
mainly influenced by the copper losses on the rotor,
modelled by the rotor resistance. That is, the smaller the
slip, the smaller these losses. In the case of the DFIG, the
slip can be controlled and it is of particular importance that
the static converters between the mains and the rotor circuit
can be dimensioned in such a way that only a small part of
the entire power, that is to say the slip power, flows
through the rotor. This also enables the improvement of the
overall efficiency, because of the substantial converter
losses. By means of a LC-filter one can produce
(capacitive) reactive power and, under certain operating
conditions, influence the mains voltage and the power
factor. The machine supplies active power to the network
(over-synchronous operation) or is fed from the network
(sub-synchronous operation) through the rotor [2], [3]. A
short overview of the system can be seen in the second part
of this work, and the control principles are derived in [4].
For larger systems, in the MW range, it is necessary to
minimise these losses specified above. A 600 KW DFIG
system was examined in [5] in relation to the minimal
converter losses operating condition, whereas the machine
losses remained unconsidered. Sub-optimal values for
reactive power division were implemented as a table for
different conditions of operation.
In this study the copper losses in the generator are
calculated and both sub-optimal procedures, converter and
machine minimal losses are compared. Additionally, the
system total losses for the different operating points are
calculated, as well as the optimal reactive power
distribution. The latter in order to achieve the minimal total
losses.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE SYSTEM
The generator slip-rings are connected to a rotor-side
converter (RSC), which shares a DC-link with the mains-
side converter (MSC) in a so-called back-to-back
configuration. Both, RSC and MSC, can lead a third of the
machine rated power. The AC-side of the MSC is connected
through an LC-filter a three-phase capacitor bank and
series inductances to the network, while the stator of the
generator is connected to the network by a protective
switch. The system diagram is shown in fig. 1.
Fig. 1. System overview
The RSC controls the d and q-components of the rotor
current that is the electromagnetic torque and the power
factor. So the active and reactive power, which flow through
the rotor and stator, can be controlled. The d-component of
the MSC current feeds the DC-link voltage during under-
synchronous operation and during over-synchronous
operation energy is delivered to the mains. Additionally the
reactive power requirement of the system and of the LC-
filter is controlled by the q-component of the MSC current,
and so the systems power factor can be influenced. The LC-
filter has the function of damping the harmonics in the line
current and supplying the capacitive reactive power
necessary for the magnetisation process of the generator.
This enables the system to operate at different power factors
and therefore to fulfil the supply needs.
3. MINIMAL COPPER LOSSES
The copper losses in the generator depend on the machine
coil resistances and on the stator and rotor currents, as
described in [6]
( ) ( )
2 2 2 2
rq rd r sq sd s Cu
I I R I I R P + + + (1)
To calculate the minimal copper loss, first the stator
currents are represented as functions of the machine
inductances, rotor currents and rated flux as in (2) and (3).
rd
s
m
sd
I
L
L
I

,
_

(2)
rq
s
m
s
sq
sq
I
L
L
L
I

,
_

(3)
Then these expressions are properly substituted in equation
(1) and differentiated upon the q-component of the rotor
current, as follows
0

rq
Cu
I
P
(4)
With the previous computed value of the optimal q-
component of the rotor current, the optimal q-component of
stator current can be calculated, in a sense that both must
build the machine rated flux.
2 2
m s s r
sq m s
rq
L R L R
L R
I
N
OPT
+

(5)
OPT
N
OPT
rq
s
m
s
sq
sq
I
L
L
L
I

,
_

(6)
The machine parameters employed here are described in
table 1 at the end of the paper. The curves showing the
machine copper losses for different values of stator power
factor and in relation to the d-axis stator current are plotted
in fig. 2. It is noticeable here that for each value of Isd or
active power, there is one optimal value of stator power
factor that minimises the generator losses. These optimal
values are normally inductive due to this natural
characteristic of the machine.
Fig. 2 Machine copper losses in relation to the d-axis
stator current Isd.
The copper losses in percent related to the optimal values
for different stator power factors can be seen in fig. 3.
These curves are computed by expression (7).
opt Cu Cu
Cu
Cu
P P
P
P

(7)
Fig. 3 Copper losses in percent of the optimal losses
Fig. 4 and 5 show, respectively, the optimal stator power
factor curve and the generator efficiency in relation to
active power range or Isd.
Fig. 4 Optimal stator power factor versus current Isd.
Fig. 5 Generator efficiency .
4. CONVERTER LOSSES
In order to calculate the converter losses, the following
model from [ 7] is used:
) ( ) ( ) ( D P T P T P P
VS VS VD V
+ + , (8)
whereby Pv is the total loss on the converters, Pvd(T) and
Pvs(T) are the conducting and switching losses of the used
semiconductor, IGBT's in this case, respectively, and
Pvs(D) correspond to the switching losses of the diodes.
Further, expression (9) is so characterised:
1
]
1

,
_

+ +
2
2
1 2
6
a CE a c a CE V
I r E I f I U P

(9)
whereby ,
) ( ) ( ) (
2
1
D out T out T in
e e e E + +
(10)
In these equations (9) and (10) UCE is the collector-emitter
voltage of the IGBT's, fc corresponds to the switching
frequency, ein and eout the turn on and off switching energy
of the semiconductors and Ia the converter rms current.
These parameters were obtained from the SEMIKRON
Databook for semiconductors [8].
In fig. 6 one sees the copper and MSC energy dissipation by
full load and for different power factors in relation to the
reactive power dividing factor .

,
n
s
Q
Q

(11)
where Qs and Qn are the reactive power values on the stator
and on the network, respectively. The dashed line
corresponds to the minimal copper losses in the generator.
For each value of the power factor there is meets a certain
value of , which minimises these losses.
Fig. 6 Machine Copper Losses
The RSC losses have their minimal loss points near the
minimal copper losses line whilst the MSC minimal losses
occur on different points and are more significant than those
of the RSC and the generator, as it is shown in fig. 7.
Therefore it is meaningful to employ an optimisation of
the MSC losses instead of the generator or the RSC. In
fig. 8 one sees that this procedure gives the closest results to
the minimal total losses.
Fig. 7 MSC losses
Fig. 8 Total losses
The optimal values of , which minimise the total losses for
different conditions, differ from the sub-optimal values,
which optimise the machine copper losses. The former are
closer to the sub-optimal values of , which minimise the
MSC losses. With this interpretation one can then project
the whole system.
5. OPTIMAL SYSTEM LOSSES
The maximal wind energy density is found somewhere
between the minimum and maximum power ratings. If the
system operates under different values of active power, it is
important to calculate the optimal values of for the whole
power operating range.
In fig. 9 to 11 one sees the surfaces representing the system
losses in relation to the active power and , for values of
slip and power factors. On these surfaces the locus of the
points of minimum losses for each active power value is
plotted. The diagrams show the copper, MSC converter
losses and their specific minimum values (indicated by the
thicker line), as well as the total minimum values. In
addition one can also say that minimising the MSC loss is
the procedure which most closely reaches the optimum for
the entire operating range.
Fig. 9 Total system losses in relation to the active power
and
Fig. 10 MSC losses in relation to the active power and
Fig. 11 Generator copper losses in relation to the active
power and .
The following diagram in fig. 12 illustrates the optimal
values of for a certain slip and different values of the
power factor.
Fig. 12 Locus of the optimal reactive power dividing
factor.
For small values of the active power the values of lead
against infinite, which is to be expected, if the LC-filter
supplies the necessary reactive power for magnetisation of
the generator. These values can be implemented as a look-
up table, as it is described in [7] for a sub-optimal method.
These results were simulated for a 5 minutes time series of
measured wind data for the real plant from [2], for the
system working with 0.9 inductive power factor, and
compared with the sub-optimal method of dividing the
reactive power implemented in the generator control. This
latter is based on fixed values of for each power factor
and were derived from the optimal values for full load
condition. It is clear that the optimal method shown here
achieved better energy savings because it considers all load
conditions to which the windmill is submitted regarding to
the variation of wind.
Figure 13 shows the speed on the generator axis as well as
the developed electromagnetic torque and the input power
for this wind time series. The torque values were computed
from the speed versus torque characteristic of the
WINDTEC 600 windmill [9].
Fig. 13 Speed, electromagnetic torque and power input on
the generator axis.
The instantaneous gains on the system efficiency for
optimal and sub-optimal reactive power dividing are
compared on the figure 14.
Fig. 14 Achieved efficiency values for both methods
optimal and sub-optimal.
In average for the simulated real time the optimal method
efficiency was 98.8 % against 97.1 % of the sub-optimal
method. Furthermore, it seems that the improvements are
better for weak wind speeds. It is remarkable to say that the
best results on improving the system efficiency occur for
inductive operation of the plant and the optimal and sub-
optimal methods have the same results for unity power
factor.
These results will be published on further works, where the
annual energy production will be computed and so the
impact on the costs of energy production will be analysed.
6. CONCLUSION
In order to minimise the losses, which occur in the machine
copper, there is an optimal stator power factor for each
active power value. The network reactive power
requirement is then fulfilled by the MSC converter and the
LC filter.
The fact that the minimisation of the copper losses
regarding the system total losses is not optimal is evident.
However, this is not negligible, if the life span of the
generator is taken into account.
The question arises as to whether it is or not worthwhile to
use the system total loss optimisation procedure instead of
the sub-optimal procedures. Furthermore, the expected
improvements and their expenditure also need to be
considered.
The loss models used here are parameter dependent, and
these parameters should correspond with reality, in order for
the optimisation to be successful. This calls for adaptive
control and/or artificial intelligence schemes.
In future work, the LC-filter losses as well as the harmonic
losses will be considered as well as its dimensioning
regarding not only the filtering characteristics but also
system losses. The dynamic behaviour of the wind power
plant will also be investigated. Thus the variation of the
system states will be determined during changes in the
operating conditions. This will allow for the development of
suitable control strategies.
7. REFERENCES
[1] Leonhard. W.,Control of Electrical Drives, Springer-
Verlag, Berlin,1985.
[2] Hofmann,W., Thieme, A., Control of a Double-Fed
Induction Generator for Wind-Power Plants, Proceedings
of Power Quality, pp.275-282, May,1998.
[3] Dittrich,A., Hofmann,W., Stoev,A., Thieme, A., Design
and Control of a Wind Power Station with Double Fed
Induction Generator, Proceedings of EPE97,pp.2723-
2728, Trondheim,1997.
[4] Quang,N.P., Dittrich,A., Thieme,A., Doubly-fed
induction machine as generator: control algorithms with
decoupling of torque and power factor, Electrical
Engineering 80, pp 325-335, 1997.
[5] Hofmann,W.,Optimal Reactive Power Splitting in Wind
Power Plants Controlled by Double-Fed Induction
Generator, Proceedings of AFRICON99, pp. 943-948,
Cape Town, Sept. 1999.
[6] Tang,Y., Xu,L.,A Flexible Active and Reactive Power
Control Strategy for a Variable Speed Constant Frequency
Generating System, IEEE Trans. on Industry
Applications,1993.
[7] Hofmann, W., 'Blindleistungsoptimierte Regelung von
Windkraftanlagen mit Doppeltgespeisten
Drehstromgeneratoren', Fachtagung Leistungselektronik u.
Intelligente Bewegungssteuerungen, LIBS99, pp.216-221,
Magdeburg, March, 1999.
[8] SEMIKRON 99 Power Electronics99
[9] Windtec 600 Windmill Technical Data;
http://www.windtec.tlk.co.at.co.at
Parameter Value
Power 600 KW
Number of Poles 4
Rs 3.6 m
Rr 4.3 m
Lls 0.680 mH
Llr 0.865 mH
Lm 5.4 mH
Tab. 1 Machine Parameters
THE AUTHORS
Mr. Balduino Rabelo was born in
Guanhaes, Brazil and got his B.Sc. and
M.Sc. degrees in electrical engineering
from the Federal University of Minas
Gerais (UFMG) in 1992 and 1998,
respectively. He is currently working
towards his Ph.D. degree at the Technical
University of Chemnitz. His research
interests are control of induction machines and converters,
parameter identification and renewable energy systems.
Prof. Wilfried Hofmann was born in
Dresden, Germany and got his Dipl.Ing.
and Dr. Ing. degrees in electrical
engineering at the TU Dresden in 1978
and 1984, respectively. He is the
Chairman of the Department of Electrical
Machines and Drives at the Technical
University of Chemnitz since 1992. His
research interests are control of induction machines and
converters, position control, magnetic bearings, hybrid
electromechanical vehicles and renewable energy systems.
ACKONWLEDGEMENT
We would like to thank for the financial and technical
support from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
and from the Department of Electrical Machines and
Drives of the Technical University of Chemnitz.