Physical Concepts Related to Harmonics Produced by Wind Turbines Operation

The increasing demand for low environmental impact energy resources has intensified the importance of wind farms in many countries. However, several technical discussions about the integration of these generators to electrical networks are motivated by the harmonic distortion impacts on the coupling bus. In fact, power electronics devices play an important role in different wind generation schemes, although its harmonic emission affect directly the voltage quality standards. In this context, this work aims at reviewing the operational characteristics of wind turbines with synchronous machines and full-scale power converters, regarding the main factors responsible for harmonic generation. The theoretical concepts presented throughout the paper are supported by computer modelling and simulation, as well as field measurements on a real wind power plant.