Fault-Ride-Through (FRT) Control of a grid-connected Fixed-Speed Wind Energy Conversion System using STATCOM

TL;DR

This paper presents a STATCOM-based control method to enhance fault-ride through and voltage stability of a fixed-speed wind energy system during grid faults, addressing reactive power support and fault management.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of a 48-pulse STATCOM for FRT control in fixed-speed WECS, improving stability without complete generator tripping.

Findings

Effective reactive power compensation during faults

Maintains voltage stability at PCC

Enables fault-ride through without generator disconnection

Abstract

Wind energy conversion system (WECS) is stochastic in nature and has low inertia to grid voltage instability, poor reactive power compensation and most importantly fault susceptibility. Variable speed WECS such as a doubly-fed induction generators (DFIG) are well known to reach steady state quickly after fault occurrence without the need for an external reactive power source because of the presence of a back-to-back converter that provides independent control of the active and reactive power unlike in the fixed-speed squirrel cage induction generator (SCIG) counterpart that cant be stabilized unless ab external source of reactive power support is present. However, controlling DFIG is complicated and costly due to complete tripping unlike the fixed-speed generators which doesnt trip completely when fault occurs. Hence, in this work, a 48-pulse, 3-phase static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) is used to ensure reactive power compensation and fault-ride through (FRT) control of the SCIG against over-voltage emanating from fault occurrence in a grid-connected power system. The goal here is to guarantee voltage stability and fault-ride through control against injected faults within certain time ranges at the point of common coupling (PCC) between the AC sources, the load, and the fixed-speed WECS.