| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1733947 | Energy | 2012 | 14 Pages |
This paper deals with the power generation efficiency analysis of a proposed offshore wind farm topology, consisting of a SLPC (single large power converter) that simultaneously controls a group of generators. This common converter can operate at a VF (variable frequency) or at a CF (constant frequency). The results are compared with the conventional onshore wind farm scheme, where individual power converters are connected to each turbine, guaranteeing maximum power generation for the entire wind farm. A methodology to analyze different wind speed and direction scenarios, and to compute the optimal electrical frequency for each one, is presented and applied to different case studies depending on the wind farm size. In order to obtain more realistic values of wind speeds, the wake effect amongst wind turbines is considered. A wake model considering single, partial and multiple wakes inside a wind farm and taking into account different wind directions, is presented. Both wind farm topologies are analyzed by means of simulations, taking into account both wind speed variability in wind farms and the number of wind turbines. The possible resulting benefits of simplifying the MPCs (multiple power converters) of each turbine, namely saving costs, reducing losses and maintenance and increasing the reliability of the system, are analyzed, focusing on the total power extraction. The SLPC-VF scheme is also compared with a CF scheme SLPC-CF, and it is shown that a significant power increase of more than 33% can be obtained with SLPC-VF.
► Comparative analysis of power extraction efficiency between two different WF alternatives, according to the power converters layout being used. ► Conventional alternative: a power converter for each wind turbine. ► Proposed alternative: one power converter for the whole wind farm. ► A detailed wake model considering single, partial and multiple wakes within the entire wind farm has been implemented. ► Parameters such as wind directions, spatial wind speed variability and the number of turbines have been taken into account.
