Journal of Electrical and Electronics Engineering 47

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Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator Driven Wind Energy

Conversion System Based on Parallel Active Power Filter
FERDI Brahim1, DIB Samira1, BERBAOUI Brahim2
1
Bechar University, Algeria
Technology Department,
Sciences & Technology Faculty,
B.P 417 BECHAR (08000), Algeria, E-Mail: ferdi_brahim@yahoo.com
2
Renewable Energy in Saharan Environment Research Unit, RESERU, Adrar, Algeria
Renewable Energy Development Center, REDC, 01000, Adrar, Algeria
2
Adrar University, Algeria
Laboratory of Sustainable Development and Information Technology, LSDIT, 01000, Adrar, Algeria

Abstract – this paper proposes a novel application of
the instantaneous P-Q theory in a wind energy
conversion system (WECS). The proposed WECS is
formed by permanent magnet synchronous generator
(PMSG) wind turbine system connected to the grid
through parallel active power filter (PAPF). PAPF
uses the generated wind energy to feed loads connected
at the point of common coupling (PPC), compensates
current harmonics and injects the excess of this energy
into the grid using P-Q theory as control method. To
demonstrate the feasibility and the performance of the
proposed control scheme, simulation of this wind
system has been realized using MATLAB/SIMULINK
software. Simulation results show the accuracy and
validity of the proposed control scheme for the PMSG-
PAPF system.
Keywords: Wind energy, PMSG, WECS, PAPF,
current harmonics, p-q theory.
I. INTRODUCTION
In recent years, there has been continuous growth of
power generation from non-conventional energy
sources. Concerning these energy sources, wind power
is becoming a priority in several countries [1]. Wind
power is the most attractive form of renewable sources
from economic, Environmental and technical concerns
[2-7]. The total installed wind power capacity is
constantly increasing. Not only the overall installed
wind power capacity, but also the average rated power
per wind mill is constantly increasing. Consequently,
Wind power industry and the construction of wind farms
are undergoing rapid development [8, 9].
Many efforts are committed into finding the most
efficient approaches to exploit the wind energy into the
power system. Two preferred topologies for wind
energy systems exist. One topology uses a permanent
magnet synchronous generator (PMSG), and the other
uses double-fed induction generator (DFIG) [3]. Of all
the generators used in wind turbines, PMSG appear
more and more promising, having higher ratio of power
to weight with a significant advantage: it is stable,
reliable and secure under normal operating conditions;
and in comparison to a wound synchronous generator, it
is smaller and does not need a direct current power
source for field excitation [1, 10, 11]. Wind conversion
systems that use PMSGs are composed of a wind turbine
that directly drives a multi-pole PMSG. The system uses
a AC-DC-AC power conversion system, which includes
a diode bridge rectifier with a bulky capacitor, and a
DC-AC inverter interfacing grid [3].
Non-linear devices produce distorted current and
voltage waveforms in the power system. The injected
harmonics have several impacts on the utilities grid and
loads connected to system. To overcome these power
quality problems, harmonic active filters are widely used
in the system. [12-17]. One of the best choices is to use
a Parallel Active Power Filter (PAPF) [2, 16, 18]. The
use of a PAPF reduces system cost and also improves
system reliability. Hence, the total harmonic distortion
(THD) is kept as low as possible, improving the power
quality of the power system.
In this paper, the analysis are focused on the system
configuration with a direct coupling between a PMSG
wind turbine and a parallel active power filter (PAPF)
employed to inject the wind power into the utility grid
under fixed and various wind speed conditions. The
proposed design is not only able of delivering the wind
power to the grid, but will also act as a parallel active
power filter to mitigate the current harmonics and
regulate reactive power injected by the non-linear loads.
The control system of the proposed wind energy
conversion system (WECS) uses a well known detection
method used in active filtering called the instantaneous
P-Q theory. It provides fast, precise and robust current
detection method. To validate the effectiveness of the
proposed WECS, a simulation model was developed and
implemented in MATLAB-SIMULINK environment.
Simulation results show the accuracy and validity of the
proposed control scheme for the proposed PMSG-PAPF
wind energy conversion system.
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II. PARALLEL ACTIVE POWER FILTER

Parallel Active Power Filter (PAPF) is a power

converter utilized in order to compensate current
disturbances (harmonics, reactive power and unbalance).
In order to meet quality enhancement constraints proper
control of its power switches is needed. Several
topologies and configuration have been introduced in the
literature and in commercial implementations for this
filter that highlight different aspects of its compensation Fig. 2. Permanent magnet synchronous generator based wind
tasks. The most common topology of the shunt active turbine
power filter is shown in fig. 1. Its main components are
voltage source inverter, DC bus (in our situation is a IV. WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM
capacitor), output passive filter and a control system.
The most important objective of the PAPF is to The Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS)
compensate the current harmonics generated by non considered in this paper consists of a PMSG driven by a
linear loads. The reference currents consists of the fixed pitch wind turbine. The configuration of this
harmonic components of the load currents which the WECS is illustrated in Fig. 3.
active filter must supply [19]. These reference currents
are fed through a controller to generate switching signals
for the power switching devices of the voltage source
inverter (VSI). Finally, the AC supply will only need to
provide the fundamental component for the non linear
load.

Fig. 3. Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS)

The PAPF is controlled in such a way that, it can be used

to inject sinusoidal current into the grid for energy
extraction from the wind turbine during linear load
conditions. During non-linear load conditions, it can be
used also, for harmonic and reactive compensation [2,
15, 17]. To control the performance and the effectiveness
Fig. 1. General structure of parallel active power filter of the filter in achieving our goal, the PAPF is operated
based on the concept of the instantaneous active and
III. WIND TURBINE MODEL reactive power theory (p-q method) [22, 23]. The control
input is a current error signal which in this application, is
There are many different generator concepts for the difference between the actual current injected by VSI
wind-power applications in use today. The main and the desired or reference current waveform.
distinction can be made between fixed-speed and
variable-speed wind-generator concepts. A fixed-speed V. REFERENCE CURRENTS CALCULATION
wind-generator is usually equipped with a squirrel-cage
induction generator whose speed variations are only The reference currents for the control of the PAPF are
very limited. Power can here only be controlled through calculated using the active and reactive power analysis in
pitch angle variations. Because the efficiency of wind- a stationary Įȕ frame (p-q method). Load currents and
turbines depends on the tip-speed ratio, the power of a phase voltages of the three-phase system expressed in Įȕ
fixed-speed wind generator varies directly with the wind frame are given by:
speed. In contrast to this, variable speed concepts allow
ª 1 1 º
operating the wind turbine at the optimum tip-speed «1 − − ªi a º
ªiα º 2 2 2 »« »
ratio and hence at the optimum power-coefficient for a « »= « » ib (1)
wide wind speed range. Varying the generator’s speed ¬iβ ¼ 3« 3 3 » «« »»
« 0 − » ¬ic ¼
requires frequency converters that increase investment ¬ 2 2 ¼
costs. In most modern designs, a synchronous generator
ª 1 1 º
or a permanent magnet generator is used [20, 21]. In this « 1 − − ªea º
case the total generated power flows through the ªeα º 2 2 2 »« »
« »= « » eb (2)
converter as shown in fig.2. ¬e β ¼ 3« 3 3 » «« »»
«0 − » ¬ec ¼
¬ 2 2 ¼
 Journal of Electrical and Electronics Engineering 49
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Where ia, ib, ic are the load currents and ea, eb, ec are the To control the proper amount of active power fed or
three-phase grid voltages. The instantaneous real power drawn by the PAPF, it is necessary to introduce a gain
and the instantaneous imaginary power absorbed by the factor k [24].
load are, respectively, defined as follows:
pg
p1 = eα iα + eβ iβ (3) k= (8)
p1
q1 = eα iβ − eβ iα (4)
In normal conditions this gain is quite near unity,
pl and ql are made up of a DC and an AC component, so because the losses in PAPF components are negligible.
that they may be expressed by: When DC capacitor charging is needed, the gain factor
is above unity because grid must supply an additional
p1 = p1 + ~
p1 (5) amount of active power to the PAPF. When DC voltage
level is too high, gain factor is regulated to values below
q1 = q1 + q~1 (6)
unity, so a power less than p1 is required to the grid and
Where p1 and q1 are DC components due to fundamental the remaining part of p1 is fed to the load by the PAPF.
currents while ~ p1 and q~1 are AC components due to Hence the instantaneous reference powers for the PAPF
harmonic currents. In order to generate the reference are:
currents, a balance between instantaneous powers
­° p*f = ~
p1 + (1 − k ) p1
supplied by the grid and the PAPF and drained by the ® (9)
*
load is to be computed. If pg and qg are the real and °̄ q f = q1
imaginary instantaneous powers supplied by the main,
while pf and qf are the real and imaginary instantaneous A transformation from instantaneous powers to currents
powers supplied by the PAPF, in order to compensate allows generating proper reference for currents control
reactive power and eliminate harmonic currents, the grid according to the following equation:
should supply pg = p1 and qg = 0. The oscillatory −1
ªi fα º ª eα eβ º ª p f º
component of pl is to be fed by PAPF, while ql must be «i » = « « »
eα »¼ ¬ q f ¼
(10)
fully fed by the PAPF because it is also possible in this ¬ fβ ¼ ¬− eβ
way to achieve reactive power compensation. The
oscillatory part of pl is due to harmonic components, so through the operation of the DC bus voltage level
if it is fed to the load by the PAPF, grid current remains regulation, wind energy is transferred to the grid.
sinusoidal, while the load keeps on receiving the same
VI. SIMULATION RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
amount of harmonic and fundamental current. Power
balance yields:
The proposed PMSG-PAPF system is not only
­ p g = p1 capable of supplying extracted wind power to the power
° system, but it also can significantly mitigate harmonic
° qg = 0 currents which are drawn by non-linear loads. In order
® ~ (7)
° p f = p1 − p g = p1 − p1 = p1 to demonstrate the validity of the concepts discussed
° q f = q1 − q g = q1 previously a simulation using MATLAB/SIMULINK
¯ environment is done as it is shown in Figure 4. The
Previous equations need to be modified in order to parameters of the system are shown in table 1.
consider proper operation of the capacitor on the DC
side of the inverter. The capacitor stores energy which is TABLE 1. Parameters of The proposed PMSG-PAPF system
utilized as a power supply for the normal operation of
the PAPF. More in detail, in normal operating Source Line Voltage Vs Grid 380 V
conditions the PAPF does not feed active power because Load Power PL 250 kVA
Frequency fs 50 Hz
it should be able to supply pf = ~
p1 and qf = ql and so only
Wind Turbine
reactive power is fed. For this reason, capacitor voltage Nominal Power PT 1 MW
level is constant during the steady state. In order to Turbine Voltage VT 380 V
regulate DC voltage level, it is necessary to control Wind Speed 10 m/s
active power balance among the grid, load and PAPF. Generator PMSG
When the load absorbs a precise quantity of power p1 PAPF
Switching Frequency 12 kHz
and if pg > p1 excess power is drawn by the PAPF, Output Filter 1 mH
DC Link Capacitor 8.8 mF
which increases the DC side voltage. If pg < p1 , since
Capacitor DC Voltage 2650 V
the load needs a precise amount of power, the PAPF reference current p-q Method
feeds the remaining part in order to have VSI control PWM + PI
p g + p f = p1 and hence the DC voltage level decreases.
 50 Volume 7, Number 1, May 2014
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LOAD CURRENT
500

IL (A )
0

-500
0.44 0.46 0.48 0.5 0.52 0.54 0.56
INJECTED CURRENT

I inj ( A )
Fig. 4. MATLAB/SIMULINK model for the studied 0
system configuration (WECS and power system)

0.44 0.46 0.48 0.5 0.52 0.54 0.56

LOAD CURRENT
1000
500 SOURCE CURRENT
IL (A)

0
-500 IS (A )
-1000 0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
INJECTED CURRENT
5000
0.44 0.46 0.48 0.5 0.52 0.54 0.56
TIME ( S )
I inj ( A )

2085
0
-2085
-5000 Fig. 7. Zoom of Fig.5 at the point where power changes
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 direction

SOURCE CURRENT
P - Q ( kW - kVAR ) P - Q ( kW - kVAR )

LOAD POWER
5000
IS (A)

248
1500
0
-1500 P
-5000 57,5
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 0
TIME ( S ) 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3

INJECTED POWER
Fig. 5. Non-Linear Load current with Harmonics, compensated 1000
current injected by PAPF and Source current after
compensation 69,3
P
-1000
WIND SPEED -2000
15 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
( m/ s )

10
P - Q (k W - kVAR )

SOURCE POWER
2000
s
W

5 1000 P
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
DC-LINK VOLTAGE
-13,4
-717
2 650
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
(V)

TIME ( S )
dc

1 000
V

0 Fig. 8. Active (P) and reactive (Q) power: power consumed by

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
the load, power injected by the PAPF and the power of the
TIME ( S )
source at constant wind speed = 10 m/s
Fig. 6. wind speed and DC-link voltage regulation
 Journal of Electrical and Electronics Engineering 51
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LOAD CURRENT
500
(A)

0
L
I

-500
9.9 9.91 9.92 9.93 9.94
INJECTED CURRENT
2085
(A)

0
inj
I

-2085
9.9 9.91 9.92 9.93 9.94

SOURCE CURRENT
1600
(A)

0
S
I

-1600
9.9 9.91 9.92 9.93 9.94
TIME ( S )

Fig. 9. Steady-state waveforms of load, injected and source

current

Comprehensive simulation studies have been carried

out to evaluate the performance of the proposed PMSG-
PAPF system based on the instantaneous active and
reactive power theory (P-Q theory) in compensating the
harmonic currents and reactive power at the PCC point,
while at the same time injecting the wind generated
power into the grid. Under constant wind speed
operation (10 m/s), different typical simulations are
investigated and the results are shown in figures 5 to 10.
At t = 0 s, the PMSG-PAPF system start working and
before it reaches steady state operation it passes through
a severe transient state (until t=0.44 s) which is not
studied in this paper, as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 8.
In Figures 7 and 8, it can be seen that from time 0.44
s to 0.5 s the wind turbine power is increasing what
makes the absorbed current from the source by the non
linear load decreases. At approximately 0.5 second the
wind turbine produces all the power needed by the non
linear load and the current of the source decreases to
zero. Just after 0.5 second, wind turbine produces more
power than it is needed by the load and we can see the
current flow into the source, in other words, the flow of
current and power into the source changes its direction.
Therefore, we can say that the wind turbine starts
delivering power to the grid after it has finished feeding
the non linear load by all the power it needs.
Because of the slowness of the mechanical dynamic
behavior of the wind turbine, the PMSG-PAPF system
reaches its steady state around 9 seconds. Therefore, the
corresponding waveforms of the load current, injected
current and source current is shown in figure 9. Another
point that should be noted from the observation of figure Fig. 10. Steady-state waveforms spectrum (without the
fundamental) of : (a) Non-linear load current with Harmonics,
9 is that, PAPF current is injected to support grid and
(b) compensated current injected by PAPF and (c) Source
load as well as producing harmonic cancellation. current after compensation
 52 Volume 7, Number 1, May 2014
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From the current spectrum (up to 2500 Hz) in Figure
10, load harmonics have been greatly reduced by the
PMSG-PAPF configuration (Fig. 10 (c), so the source
current THD value decreased from 23.57% to 1.11%.
Therefore, the advantage of using a PAPF over the
classical simple inverter is that it mitigates the current
harmonics irrespective of the wind speed profile.
As shown in Figure 6. It is quite clear that the DC
bus voltage follows the reference DC voltage; also wind
turbine speed tracks precisely the reference speed.
VII. CONCLUSION
Wind power seems to be the favorable clean energy
source of the future. So, to optimize its use we have
proposed a direct coupling of wind turbine with parallel
active power filter (PAPF). From the results obtained, it
is proven that by using the proposed PMSG-PAPF
system based on the instantaneous active and reactive
power theory (P-Q theory), wind power can be
efficiently extracted by wind turbine and injected into
the grid by PAPF which has two functions; the first is
feeding the linear or non linear load with harmonic
current mitigation capability and the second is injecting
the surplus power into the mains. Finally and according
to the obtained results we can consider the proposed
system to be efficient solution to the growing demand of
power at the present and in the future.
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