Grid Integration of wind turbines

Deepa Kurup, C-WET 21,2011

January

Topics at a Glance
Electrical Grid

systems in wind turbines

system & properties Quality characteristics & effects of wind farms on power

Power

Integration

systems

Electrical system in wind turbines

Electrical Schematic of a fixed speed wind turbine

Electrical system in wind turbines

Fixed speed wind turbine

Electrical system in wind turbines

Limited variable speed wind turbine

Electrical system in wind turbines

Variable speed wind turbine with partial scale frequency converter

Electrical system in wind turbines

Variable speed wind turbine with full-scale frequency converter

Wind Turbines based on generator types

Constant speed CWEL C30, 250 kW NORWIN 750 kW Pioneer P250, 250 kW V39, 500 kW Pawanshakthi, 600 kW Siva 250/50, 250 kW GWL225, 225 kW Doubly fed Repower MD 77 1500 kW G58, 850 kW Variable speed Enercon E48 & E 53, 800 kW K82, 2000 kW LTW77, 1350 kW & 1500 kW Vensys77, 1500 kW

Electrical system in wind turbines

Variable

speed wind turbine Generator side converter , a diode based rectifier or a PWM Voltage Source Converter Grid side converter, PWM Voltage source converter

Electrical system in wind turbines

Variable

speed wind turbine

Control of generator side converter

Load angle control technique Vector control technique

Control of grid side converter

Load angle control technique

Electrical system in wind turbines

Variable

speed wind turbine

Load angle control technique of generator side converter

Electrical system in wind turbines

Variable

speed wind turbine

Vector control technique of generator side converter

Torque is controlled by controlling the stator current

Electrical system in wind turbines

Constant speed Simple & robust Direct Drive Aerodynamically efficient Doubly fed Aerodynamically efficient

Electrically efficient

Less mechanical stress Less mechanical stress

Standard generator Gearbox included

Large converter No gearbox

Small converter Standard generator

Power Electronic Concepts

Soft starter Frequency converters Static Voltage compensator (SVC) STATCOM

Power Electronic Concepts

Soft starters

Reactive power compensation Capacitor banks

Features Improves the power factor of each turbine (loss reduction, voltage regulation) Relatively inexpensive Are switched in blocks

Problems
power factor and output power also fluctuates, ideal compensation will require variable reactive comp (SVC). switching a big block of capacitance in and out can swing the voltage up or down and this variation is felt as an abrupt change in torque on the turbine gearboxes are not good at addressing transient events

Power electronic concepts

Typical SVC Scheme

Power electronic concepts

Static VAR compensators (SVC)

Thyristor (power electronics) switched capacitors and reactors Continuous and do not cause sudden voltage changes on the system and are highly effective in regulating voltage. Typically operate poorly at lower than nominal voltages.

Power electronic concepts

STATCOM

Power electronic concepts

STATCOM

Pure power electronic devices made from IGBT, GTO based converters to directly generate reactive currents. Faster, smaller, and have better performances at reduced voltages as compared to SVCs. Capability to address transient events

Grid system & properties

Need to adapt the wind turbines (or the wind farm) and the rest of the power system in a manner to ensure optimal operation of the combined system. Properties to be considered

Short circuit power level (Ssc) Short circuit ratio (Ssc/Sr) Grid short circuit impedance angle (X/R) ratio

Grid system & properties

Short Circuit Power level

Measure of electrical strength of a circuit Determines the effect of the turbine on the steady state voltage Voltage deviation at the wind turbine terminals is directly proportional to the ratio of rated apparent power of the turbine to the short circuit level. Constant of proportion is 1, for steady state conditions 2, for transient conditions

Grid system & properties

Short Circuit Ratio

The ratio (Rsc) of the short circuit level to the rated apparent power (Sr)of the turbine Determines the stiffness of grid- weak grid or strong grid

Generally Rsc below 20 may mean a weak grid If weak grid system

Use appropriate reactive power compensation of fixed speed wind turbines. Use of wind turbines with controllable power output. Reinforcement of the grid.

Grid system & properties

Grid system & properties

Limiting factors for weak grids

Voltage fluctuation due to wind turbines is a function of Rsc and X/R ratio. With voltage fluctuation as a limiting factor,

For overhead lines, high X/R ratio and hence lower Rsc (Ssc) is possible. For cable grid, low X/R ratio and hence higher Rsc (Ssc) is required

Power Quality

Ability of a power system to operate loads, without damaging or disturbing them, a property mainly concerned with voltage quality at points of common coupling & Ability of the loads to operate without disturbing or reducing the efficiency of the power system, a property mainly, but not exclusively, concerned with the quality of current waveform.

Power Quality characteristics of wind turbines

Causes for grid interferences of turbines

Meteorological and geographical conditions Technical performance of the wind turbines

Power Quality characteristics of wind turbines

Voltage

variations

These are defined as changes in the RMS value of the voltage during a short period of time, mostly a few minutes.

Reactive

power

Power factors as high as 0.96 can be achieved by capacitor bank compensation of asynchronous generators Variable speed turbines with inverters can achieve power factors close to unity

Power Quality characteristics of wind turbines

Harmonics
Integer multiples of the fundamental frequency Inverters used in variable speed turbines are the major source of harmonics Inverters with fixed clock frequency produce single inter harmonics which are multiples of the clock frequency Inverters with variable clock frequency produce wide band of inter harmonics and integer harmonics.

Power Quality characteristics of wind turbines

Flicker
Voltage fluctuations in the frequency range of 35 Hz which causes annoying changes in the luminance of lamps which is referred to as flicker. Caused by wake of the tower in fixed speed turbines Wind speed fluctuations have lower frequencies less critical for flicker.

Integration & effects of wind farms on power systems

Local area impacts

Immediate vicinity of the wind farm Do not occur elsewhere in the grid

System wide impacts

Affects the behavior of the system as a whole Depend on the overall penetration of the wind farm in the grid Independent of the level of geographical dispersion of the wind farms.

Integration & effects of wind farms on power systems

Local Impacts

Voltage fluctuations at the point of connection Flicker Harmonics Behavior during fault conditions

System wide effects are due to the effect of wind turbines on

Reactive power Stability of the system Frequency of the system

Integration & effects of wind farms on power systems

Mitigating the local effects

Steps can be taken to mitigate these effects at the time of connection to the grid by a careful assessment of the grid system and properties at the point of connection. Variable speed turbines show improved flicker behavior. Harmonics which are mainly generated by power electronic devices can be kept within the regulatory limits

Integration & effects of wind farms on power systems Power quality

Voltage fluctuations Harmonics

Constant speed
Proper reactive power comp. Unimportant

Direct drive
Converter compensation

Doubly fed
Converter compensation

Important, can be Important, can be kept within limits kept within limits Unimportant Unimportant

Flicker Contribution to fault currents

Important Yes

Turbine is quickly Turbine is quickly disconnected disconnected

Integration & effects of wind farms on power systems

Mitigating the system wide impacts

Adoption of suitable reactive power compensation schemes. Allowable penetration limits of wind turbines in the grid have to be studied by setting up models of wind turbines and wind farms in the regional grid for simulation and subsequent validation. Are not significant for low penetration levels.

Integration & effects of wind farms on power systems

Power System Requirements Active power control To ensure stable frequency, prevent overloading of transmission systems and avoid in- rush currents during start up and shutdown. Frequency control Power output of a wind farm can vary up to 15% in 15 minutes and disturb the frequency. Voltage control To ensure voltage at PCC is maintained within acceptable limits as required for utility and customer equipment.

Integration & effects of wind farms on power systems

Power System Requirements

Fault ride through recovery The wind turbines must be able to continue uninterrupted operation under a transient voltage variation similar to the one illustrated below

85% voltage drop for 300 ms Transient 66 kV voltage sag 75% -250 ms 95% -0,5 sec. after fault 95%

Wind Power Variability

Single wind turbine- 10 min average

Wind Variability

RE regulations
Renewable

Energy Certificates

EA 2003 set targets for distribution companies to purchase certain percentage of power from renewable energy sourcesRenewable Purchase Obligations States with lower RE levels could only meet lower RPO targets The unit cost of RE being higher than conventional power hampers the growth of renewable energy.

RE regulations
Concept

of REC mechanism

Forecasting As per IEGC regulations 2010

Day ahead forecasts of wind power at 15 minutes interval for the next 24 hrs for aggregate generation capacity of 10 MW and above at 33 kV or above. Wind generators shall forecast their generation with an accuracy of up to 70 %. Wind generation shall bear the UI charges if the actual generation is not within these accuracy levels. Host state shall bear the UI charges for variation within 30 %.

1. Schedule : 100 MW Actual generation : 100 MW Wind generator

100 MW

Purchaser

2. Schedule : 100 MW Actual generation : 70 MW Wind generator

70 MW

Purchaser

30 MW

RRF

Host state
30 MW

UI Pool

3. Schedule : 100 MW Actual generation : 60 MW Wind generator

70 MW

Purchaser

RRF
30 MW 40 MW 10 MW

Host state 4. Schedule : 100 MW Actual generation : 130 MW Wind generator

130 MW 10 MW

UI Pool

Purchaser

30 MW 30 MW

RRF

Host state
30 MW

UI Pool

5. Schedule : 100 MW Actual generation : 140 MW Wind generator

130 MW

Purchaser

RRF
30 MW 10 MW 40 MW

Host state 6. Schedule : 100 MW Actual generation : 160 MW Wind generator

130 MW 20 MW- UI rate; 10 MW- UI rate for f < 50.02 Hz 10 MW

UI Pool

Purchaser

30 MW 30 MW 30 MW

RRF

Host state
60 MW

UI Pool

Summary

Some of the aspects to be considered for grid integration of wind turbines are
Electrical system topology of the wind turbines Grid system and properties at the point of connection Possible impacts of the wind turbine on the power system Reactive power compensation schemes employed Interconnection standards, if any

Thank You