Evaluating the value of the excitation capacitance of a wind turbine/induction generator system using genetic algorithms

Due to their robustness, low cost, and low maintenance, induction generators are good candidates for wind energy systems. In addition, when the wind turbine is isolated from the grid, the induction generator can operate within a wide speed range which utilize maximum power extraction. To ensure that voltage buildup will take place between the machine terminals, the reactive power required by the machine must be supplied. To achieve that, a three phase capacitor bank is connected to the generator terminals. Evaluating the adequate value of the capacitance is very crucial since it affects the value of the generated voltage. In this paper, the desired operating voltage and the corresponding value of the magnetizing inductance are defined from the magnetizing curve. By using genetic algorithms (GAs), the corresponding values of the excitation capacitance and the rotor slip are evaluated. Matlab/Simulink model is then used for validation. It is noticed that there is a good agreement between the values predicted by the GAs and the ones obtained from the simulation.