An Algorithmic Approach for Maximum Power Point Tracking of Wind Turbine using Particle Swarm Optimization

Abstract

Due to the nature of unpredicted wind speed, determining the optimal speed of wind turbine generator to extract the maximum available wind power at any wind speed is essential. By controlling the pitch angle of the wind turbine blades we can control the rotational speed and the output power. To get the maximum output power under lower wind speed and to maintain the stable rated output power under higher wind speed, the proper method must be used. In this paper, particle swarm optimization (PSO)-based maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm is used to trace the maximum power when wind speed is lower than the rated speed and to get the proper pitch angle to limit the output power when the wind speed is greater than the rated speed. The simulation results performed on MATLAB/Simulink show the variations of the wind turbine generator output power, rotor speed, torque, pitch angle of wind turbine blades and wind velocities at those instants.