A laboratory model for harmonic measurements in windpower generators

In this letter we present the principles of an integrated control and measurement system which is linked to a DC servo motor used to drive a single-phase induction machine. The role of the DC servo motor is to model the drive from the turbine of a wind energy conversion system (WECS). This drive is in turn physically connected to a single-phase induction machine that is in turn linked to an external single-phase supply and various loads applied. Measurements of the harmonic components from the system are obtained from a desktop computer with analog to digital interface cards running programs developed under LabVIEW software. The system demonstrates the greatest change in harmonic components just before onset of power generation and thereafter settles to a constant level. Work is planned to expand the system to include more nodes, three phase capabilities, and reactive power electronic control.