Dynamic performance of wind-driven self-excited reluctance generator under varying wind speed and load

Abstract

This paper presents the dynamic performance of a wind-driven self-excited reluctance generator (WDSERG) to obtain a desired output voltage under a stochastic wind speed variation and changing load. The dynamic model of SERG is developed and utilised to simulate the WDSERG in the MATLAB-Simulink environment. A stochastic wind speed profile is generated using weibull distribution. The excitation capacitance required to maintain the output voltage at a desired level is computed for each wind speed and load. The obtained capacitance value is utilised to provide the required excitation for the self-excited reluctance generator (SERG). Different scenarios of load conditions are considered and an optimal capacitance value is determined and selected for each load cases. The results show that in spite of the variation in wind speed or load, a desired output voltage level within predetermined limits is obtained. This illustrates that variable excitation capacitance can be utilised to follow the wind speed in order to produce a desired output voltage level under any given operating conditions of wind speed and terminal load, within the steady state limits of the SERG. Therefore, this can offer an effective and low-cost solution for output voltage control of WDSERG, particularly in remote locations.