Permanent-Magnet Machine Selection for Precise Matching with a Wind Turbine

In this paper, an efficient algebraic algorithm is proposed to specify a PM generator for precise matching with a wind turbine to increase the generated power. A performance analysis of a wind power generation system in operation under an optimum control strategy is presented to illustrate the generator selection problem. It is shown that an adequate turbine-generator selection must be done to boost the overall energy production, system efficiency and investment exploitation. While a PM generator for wind power application is often chosen by the only specification of rated power, speed and voltage, no attention is paid on the machine parameters. The proposed algorithm can be used directly to specify a PM machine with surface mounted magnet and as a starting point to select a PM machine with interior or buried magnet. All parameters calculated by using the algorithm are feasible and simulation results show that generators selected satisfy the condition for optimum power generation demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.