-This paper describes a real-time hardware simulator for a grid-tied Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator (PMSG) wind power system, which consists of an anemometer, a data logger, a motor-generator set with vector drive, and a back-to-back power converter with a digital signal processor (DSP) controller. The anemometer measures real wind speed, and the data is sent to the data logger to calculate the turbine torque. The calculated torque is sent to the vector drive for the induction motor after it is scaled down to the rated simulator power. The motor generates the mechanical power for the PMSG, and the generated electrical power is connected to the grid through a back-to-back converter. The generator-side converter in a back-to-back converter operates in current control mode to track the maximum power point at the given wind speed. The grid-side converter operates to control the direct current link voltage and to correct the power factor. The developed simulator can be used to analyze various mechanical and electrical characteristics of a grid-tied PMSG wind power system. It can also be utilized to educate students or engineers on the operation of grid-tied PMSG wind power system.

This paper addresses a modeling and analysis methodology for investigating the stochastic harmonics and resonance concerns of wind power plants (WPPs). Wideband harmonics from modern wind turbines (WTs) are observed to be stochastic, associated with real power production, and they may adversely interact with the grid impedance and cause unexpected harmonic resonance, if not comprehensively addressed in the planning and commissioning of the WPPs. These issues should become more critical as wind penetration levels increase. We thus propose a planning study framework comprising the following functional steps: First, the best fitted probability density functions (PDFs) of the harmonic components of interest in the frequency domain are determined. In operations planning, maximum likelihood estimations (MLEs) followed by a chi-square test are used once field measurements or manufacturers' data are available. Second, harmonic currents from the WPP are represented by randomly-generating harmonic components based on their PDFs (frequency spectrum) and then synthesized for time domain simulations via inverse Fourier transform. Finally, we conduct a comprehensive assessment by including the impacts of feeder configurations, harmonic filters and the variability of parameters. We demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed study approach for a 100-MW offshore WPP consisting of 20 units of 5-MW full converter turbines, a realistic benchmark system adapted from a WPP under development in Korea and discuss lessons learned through this research.

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