ANALYSIS OF STEADY-STATE OPERATION OF DFIG-
BASED WIND TURBINES IN POWER SYSTEMS
J. P. A. Vieira, M. V. A. Nunes, U. H. Bezerra
Federal University of Pará, Brazil
E-mails: jpavieira@ufpa.br, mvan@ufpa.br, bira@ufpa.br
Keywords: Doubly-fed induction generator, load flow
analysis, wind turbines.
Abstract
This work presents an analysis of steady-state operation of
doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) wind turbines
integrated in a power system. It is of interest to use the load
flow analysis for obtaining initial conditions for the dynamic
analysis of the DFIG in power system stability studies, as the
variables in dynamic models must coincide with those in
stationary models during steady-state operation. To solve this
problem, a method for incorporating the non-linear fifth–
order model of DFIG wind turbines based on the Newton-
Raphson algorithm is proposed for obtaining the steady-state
electrical variables of the machine under certain given
conditions. Results obtained from the load flow analysis
allow initializing the electrical variables for use in a fifth-
order dynamic model of the DFIG.
1 Introduction
In recent years, there has been much discussion on
representing wind turbine models in the load flow analysis. In
the case of conventional induction generator wind turbine,
several models were presented in [1] and [2], where some PQ
modeling possibilities were studied, and a more accurate
model was presented, called RX, based on induction machine
parameters, with the advantage that the only input variable
needed was wind speed. More recently, a new approximation
for the PQ model was presented in [3].
DFIGs are more complex systems than the conventional
induction generators wind turbine because they have more
control possibilities, but they can be also reasonably treated as
PQ buses. In some works PV bus models have also been
proposed for DFIG steady-state simulation [4]–[8], which
demonstrated that an accurate knowledge of the steady-state
operating point is a requirement for good dynamic modeling
of these machines.
The problem of initializing DFIG wind generator models is
generally solved using iterative solution techniques for the
nonlinear algebraic equations that model the DFIG in steady-
state, as described in [4]-[7]. In reference [8] a method for
directly initializing the DFIG model was proposed which is
based on the DFIG electromagnetic torque and reactive power
equations.
In [9], the results obtained from the stationary analysis
allowed initializing electrical variables using a third-order
dynamic model of the DFIG. Although, the simplicity and
reduced computation time of the third order model appears
attractive in power system stability studies, it is common
practice to use the detailed representation by fifth-order
model in ride-through analysis.
In this context, this paper presents a proposal that can easily
and accurately simulates doubly-fed induction generator
(DFIG) wind turbines in the load flow analysis by means of a
PV model, where the nonlinear fifth–order model of DFIG
wind turbines based on the Newton-Raphson algorithm is
proposed for obtaining the steady-state electrical variables of
the DFIG under certain given condition.
2 Fifth Order Dynamic Model
Dynamic models are usually sensitive to initial conditions,
and obtaining good and accurate initial values helps in the
correct representation of the model. Figure 1 shows the DFIG
representation, in which it is necessary to adopt a sign
convention to the direction of the current flow in the machine
stator and rotor windings.
It is usual, for a induction machine operating as a motor, to
consider the currents as positive when they flow into the
stator and rotor windings. In the case the induction machine is
operating as a generator it is assumed that the currents flow
out the stator winding (negative direction), while the rotor
current is flowing into the windings (positive direction).
For power system stability studies, the generator may be
modelled as an equivalent voltage source behind transient
impedance. The differential equations of the stator and rotor
circuits of the induction generator with stator current and
equivalent voltage behind transient impedance as state
variables can be given in a d-q reference frame rotating at
synchronous speed. For adequately representing the DFIG
dynamics involved in the controllers design the fourth order
model of the induction generator is used as presented in [10].
  116  −12.5λ 
Cp ( λ , β ) = 0.22  − 0.4β − 5  e  i 
 λi 
1
λi =
1 0.035
− 3
vs ig λ + 0.08β β + 1
is ic

ir Using the generated curves, the mechanical power maximum

values associated to the respective rotor speed values can be
vcc interpolated to obtain the optimal power curve, as can be
observed in Figure 2. This way, the characteristic of
extracting maximum wind power based on the obtained
optimal power curve, can be integrated to the rotor speed
control for wind speeds below nominal values.

2.5
13 m/s 12 m/s

Figure 1 – Representation of a DFIG Rated Power

2

ded' 1 L 11 m/s

= − ' ⋅ ed' − ( X − X ' ) iqs  + sωs eq' − ωs m vqr

Mechanical Power [MW]

dt To Lrr 1.5
deq' 1 L 10 m/s

= − ' ⋅  eq' + ( X − X ' ) ids  − sωs ed' + ωs m vdr Maximum Power

dt To Lrr Curve
1
X ' dids  ( X − X ' )  i + X ' i + 1− s e ' − 1 e ' + Lm v 9 m/s

= −vds − Rs + qs ( )d ' q

ωs dt  ωsTo'  ds Toωs Lrr
dr
 8 m/s

X ' diqs  ( X − X ' )  i − X ' i + 1− s e ' + 1 e ' + Lm v 0.5

7 m/s
= −vqs − Rs + ds ( )q ' d
ωs dt  ωsTo'  qs Toωs Lrr
qr 6 m/s
 5 m/s

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
Where X´ and X are respectively the transient reactance and Rotor Speed [p.u.]

the open circuit reactance; ed and

'
eq' are respectively the d-
'
axis and q-axis components of the internal voltage; To is the
open circuit time constant in seconds.
One of the great advantages of the DFIG wind turbine is its
capability to operate within a wide rotational speed range,
which operating characteristics make possible to extract
maximum wind power using adequate control strategies with
the objective of ensuring an optimal generator operation.
However, the DFIG to operate with maximum generated
active power for a given wind speed, it is necessary to define
the profile of the maximum power extraction curve, to be
adopted in the active power or rotor speed control loop of the
rotor side DFIG converter.
This way, the design of the optimal generated power curve to
be adopted, is based on the mathematical formulation of the
wind turbine which includes equations XX and YY, where
initially a set of mechanical power curves versus the rotor
speed are generated, for different values of UW in m/s, as can
be observed in Figure 2, considering a 2 MW wind turbine.
Figure 2 – DFIG mechanical power as function of rotor speed
3 Dynamic DFIG Model Initialisation Problem
Initialisation of algorithms for power system dynamic
simulation is usually obtained from a power flow study which
establishes the correct system steady-state operational
condition prior to the dynamic study. This way, through the
voltage values (magnitude and phase angle), active and
reactive power flows calculated from the load flow study the
dynamic models can be initialized for further dynamic
simulation studies.
In the load flow solution the wind park can be define as a PQ
bus, if it operates with a specified power factor (which is the
case of many applications) or it can be specified as a PV bus,
in which case it must have an available voltage control
source.
The method to calculate the initial conditions for the DFIG
wind generator adopted in this work consists of the joint
solution of the non-linear differential equations describing the
stator and rotor dynamics, where the respective derivatives
are made equal to zero; and the generator balance equations   ( X − X ' )  X (1 − s ) 1 Lm 0 
− Rs + − 
involving torques and reactive powers. This methodology is To'ω s L rr
Lm 
'
  ωsTo  
based on the following steps: 

−Rs +
( X − X' )  1 
  ωsTo'  To'ω s (1 − s ) 0 L rr 
 −X  

Step 1: Voltages (magnitudes and phase angles) as  1 sω s 0 L 
 0 ( X − X '
) −
To'
−ω s m 
L rr 
well as active and reactive powers in the wind J = To' 1 Lm
 − ω 
generation buses are obtained from the load flow  −( X − X )
'
− sω s To' s
L rr 0 
0
calculation;  To' 
 
 −eq' − ids − iqs 0 0 
 −ed' 

Step 2: From the active power obtained from the
 
load flow study, the rotor speed is interpolated using  −vq s −vds 0 0 0 0 
the optimal power curve;

Step 3: The wind speed is calculated using the power The initiallisation of the dynamic model is an important step
coefficient ratio; in the simulation process. If initial conditions are not correctly
calculated, the variables of the dynamic model will exhibit

Step 4: The induction machine slip is calculated initially wrong values and then the dynamic simulation
from the rotor speed calculation; process may reach a steady-state condition in a different
operation point.

Step 5: The exact solution is calculated using the
Newton-Raphson method. In this situation, it usually takes a long time to reach a new
equillibrium point, and numerical instabilities may occur
before the equilibrium point is reached. Besides that, if a new
equilibrium point is reached different from the supposed
 
( X − X )  i + X ' i + 1 − s e ' − 1 e ' + Lm v = 0 original one, the stability analysis may be erroneous once the
'

−vds −  Rs + ( )d ' q transient stability phenomena depend on the power system

 ωsTo'  ds qs
Toωs Lrr
dr
operational condition.

 ( X − X ' )  i − X ' i + 1 − s e ' + 1 e ' + Lm v = 0

−vqs −  Rs + ( )q ' d 4 Load Flow Analysis
 ωsTo'  qs ds
Toωs Lrr
qr

The model has been checked by simulating a real electrical

power system belonging to the COSERN utility that operates
1 L in the northeast region of Brazil, in the state of Rio Grande do
− ' ⋅ ed' − ( X − X ' ) iqs  + sωseq' −ωs m vqr = 0 Norte. In this study, the wind park to be connected is
To Lrr considered as a dynamic equivalent, thus, an equivalent wind
generator of 20 MW and 960 V is considered. The wind park
1 ' L must be connected to the distribution electrical grid by 0.96
− ⋅ e + X − X ' ) ids  − sωsed' + ωs m vdr = 0
'  q ( kV/69 kV transformers.
To Lrr

Tm − ed' ids − eq' iqs = 0

QDFIG − vqs ids − vds iqs = 0

The vector containing the problem variables is defined as:

x =  ids iqs ed' eq' vdr vqr 

The Jacobian matrix is obtained as:

Figure 3 – Açu-RN Electrical Network
Tables I and II show the load flow results, in p.u. to the case
1.15
where the wind speed and the rotor speed were calculated as
11.4 m/s and 0.9563 p.u. respectively. 1.1
with initialisation
Table I – Steady-state DFIG operating condition G 1.05 without initialisation
Pm Qs Vs Is Ir Ps Pr

Terminal Voltage [p.u.]

0.2008 -0.0690 1.0 0.2177 0.2132 0.2065 0.0119 1

Table II – Steady-state DFIG operating condition. Initial values for the 0.95
dynamic model
e’d e’q Ids Iqs Vdr Vqr S 0.9

0.9391 0.2195 0.2064 0.0691 0.0553 0.0106 0.0437

0.85

This way, with the objective to investigate the influence of 0.8

the initialisation on the DFIG wind generator modeling some
steady-state simulation results are analyzed to compare the 0.75
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
DFIG modeling with and without the calculation of the initial Time [s]
conditions, respectively.
Figure 5 – DIFG Terminal voltage
The influence of an inadequate initialisation of the DFIG
model, that is, without the calculation of the exact initial
conditions, can be observed in Figures 4 and 5, whose initial 5 Conclusions
values of the stator active power and the terminal voltage are
altered after the initial transient of 50 s reaching a new In this paper a steady state model of DFIG-based wind
steady-state equillibrium point. turbines has been developed and its application for load flow
analysis has been demonstrated. This model has been used to
Besides that, these modifications may compromise the assess the steady state behavior of the DFIG, under varying
analysis of the transient stability, and in some cases, the system conditions. The model is directly applicable to the
power system may be unstable in steady-state without the load flow analysis, in a very simple and clear way. The results
occurrence of faults, due to the lack of tuning of the DFIG obtained are directly usable as initial values in a fifth order
wind generator controllers. dynamic model of the DFIG.

0.03
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