Analysis of different converters used in wind energy conversion system

This paper studies performances of wind energy conversion system (WECS) using Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator (PMSG). The big interest and requirements to high efficiency imposes the wind turbine to operate in variable speed mode, which inevitably requires power electronic converters to maximize the extracted power from the wind as well as decoupling generator dynamics from the grid or load. The aim of this paper is to present an analysis of the suitable topology among the most popular rectifier systems for the generator-side converter those are: the passive diode bridge rectifier and the active six-switch two level rectifier, another rectifier system considered in this study include combinations of a diode bridge rectifier and DC-DC converter, the half controlled rectifier topology is also discussed. This work provides a comparison study between performances of different rectifier systems to examine their performances in (WECSs) starting by modeling of the used converters in the rectifier system, then a comparison is made between the association of (PMSG-diode rectifier) and (PMSG- diode rectifier with DC-DC buck converter), then with fully controlled rectifier, in order to discover their influences on the performances of the PMSG and the wind turbine system. Simulation results using Matlab Similink are presented to support the conclusion.