Off-grid Wind Energy Conversion Systems based on Multilevel Cascaded H-bridge Topology in Real Time Simulation

Abstract

In this paper, the modeling and real time simulation of an off-grid wind energy conversion systems based on isolated multilevel cascaded H-bridge topology is presented. The system is tested under a synthetic wind speed signal generated by Gaussian Process, even with wind variations. The off-grid WECS structure is made through an AC/DC power converter formed by a VSC in rectifier mode, which is designed through the permanent magnet synchronous generator characteristics; the DC voltage is isolated by a DC/DC modified boost converter and subsequently is applied to the DC/AC multilevel cascaded H-bridge of 5-levels converter. The system validation is achieved in MATLAB-Simulink® and with the laboratory tests using the concept of model in the loop and the real-time simulator Opal-RT Technologies®. The obtained results show a robust and effective methodology generating a total output power of 30 kW off-grid.