An Experimental Wind Farm Emulator with a Dual Variable-Speed Drive Configuration

The rise of wind power in bulk electric systems creates a growing need to model, understand, and characterize responses to various sources of disruption. Despite the numerous advantages of computer models, physical emulators have enormous benefits in characterizing dynamic magnetic electromechanical phenomena which are unexpected or difficult for models to process accurately. The development of an experimental apparatus for physical wind farm emulation is described. The control and operation of an induction motor-generator setup for mimicking wind generator dynamics are demonstrated. Recommendations for further application of this emulator are also given.