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

Wind energy conversion system (WECS) is stochastic in nature and has low inertia leading to grid voltage instability, poor reactive power compensation and most importantly fault susceptibility. Variable speed WECS such as the 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 can’t be stabilized unless an 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 doesn’t 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 (FRT) control against injected faults within certain time ranges at the point of common coupling (PCC) between the AC source, the load, and the fixed-speed WECS. The numerical simulation shows the fault-ride-through capability of the STATCOM-controlled fixed-speed WECS, good voltage regulation and effective reactive power compensation.