Web-based virtual experiment for teaching doubly-fed induction generator in the context of wind energy conversion

Wind energy plays an increasingly important role in today's power industry as more electricity is generated by wind on a global scale. The complex and multidisciplinary nature of wind energy conversion systems makes the understanding of this topic a challenging task. A novel web-based learning module on wind energy conversion and control that utilizes easy-to use interactive virtual experiments is introduced. The focus of this paper is on teaching the doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) by the use of a virtual experiment. Its intuitive graphical user interface and interactive animations, introduce the learner to the operation of the DFIG which is vital for understanding how this type of generator is operated and controlled in a wind energy conversion system.