A novel fuzzy-logic-improved direct power control strategy for DFIG-based wind turbine through real-time OPAL-RT validation

Direct Power Control for doubly-fed induction generator-based wind turbines are a widely used strategy, but it inherently suffers from significant power ripples and high total harmonic distortion, which compromise grid power quality and can induce mechanical stress on the turbine’s drivetrain. To address these critical issues, this paper introduces and validates a novel fuzzy-logic-improved direct power control strategy. The proposed method replaces the conventional hysteresis comparators and switching table with a single, parameter-free fuzzy logic controller that provides a more intelligent and smoother selection of rotor voltage vectors. The performance of this strategy was rigorously evaluated using comprehensive software simulations in MATLAB/Simulink under realistic, variable wind speed with local reactive powers compensation profiles, followed by real-time hardware-in-the-loop validation using an OPAL-RT simulator. The main results demonstrate substantial performance gains over the conventional approach, with the proposed controller achieving a 72.13 % reduction in generated active power ripples and accelerating the control system’s response time by up to 31.71 %. Crucially, power quality was significantly enhanced, with the stator current’s total harmonic distortion being reduced from 7.06 % to just 2.04 % during super-synchronous operation. The conclusion drawn from these results is that the fuzzy-logic-based approach is a simple and robust solution whose high effectiveness and practical feasibility have been successfully demonstrated in a real-time environment, making it a promising candidate for improving the grid integration of modern wind energy systems.