Mechanical sensorless controller for a small size PMSG-based wind energy conversion system

In this paper a mechanical sensorless control strategy for controlling a permanent magnet synchronous generator used in a variable speed wind energy conversion system is proposed. In order to track the wind turbine maximum power point (MPPT) an observer-based generator torque control scheme is designed. The control law is built by using estimates of the mechanical variables. These estimates are obtained through a nonlinear observer, such that voltages and currents are only measured and mechanical sensors are avoided. The proposal is validated by simulations.