Open-Circuit Fault Diagnosis in PMSG Drives for Wind Turbine Applications

Abstract

Condition monitoring and fault diagnosis are currently considered crucial means to increase the reliability and availability of wind turbines, and consequently, to reduce the wind energy cost. With similar goals, direct drive wind turbines based on permanent magnet synchronous generators (PMSGs) with full-scale power converters are an emerging and promising technology. Numerous studies show that power converters are a significant contributor to the overall failure rate of modern wind turbines. In this context, open-circuit fault diagnosis in the two power converters of a PMSG drive for wind turbine applications is addressed in this paper. A diagnostic method is proposed for each power converter, allowing real-time detection and localization of multiple open-circuit faults. The proposed methods are suitable for integration into the drive controller and to trigger remedial actions. In order to prove the reliability and effectiveness of the proposed fault diagnostic methods, several simulation and experimental results are presented. Index Terms-Condition monitoring, fault diagnosis, multiple power switch open-circuit faults, permanent magnet machines, semiconductor device reliability, wind power generation I. INTRODUCTIONost reduction of the generated wind energy is essential for the wind power penetration to keep increasing quickly, through more efficient, reliable and cost-effective wind turbines. Hence, the wind turbines based on PMSGs drives are a promising technology [1], avoiding the use of gearboxes. Furthermore, along with the PMSG, a full-scale power converter is required, which allows variable speed operation and the fulfillment of rigorous grid codes.Several issues related to wind turbines such as power quality, systems stability [2] and ride-through capability during grid faults [3] have been considered over the last few years. More recently, reliability and availability of wind Manuscript

Analysis of Vertical Strip Wound Fault-Tolerant Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines

“…A typical fault-tolerant Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine (FT-PMSM) drive topology includes a number of design features [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] to enable a level of operation when faults [3,[13][14][15][16][17] ensue. Although such a machine drive topology, if appropriately designed, can potentially tolerate converter failures, winding open circuit failures and terminal SC failures, a winding inter-turn (a single turn) SC fault remains problematic [6].…”

Advances in Electrical Machine, Power Electronic, and Drive Condition Monitoring and Fault Detection: State of the Art

“…In this regard, the use of the Park vector approach is quite extensive. [1] compares the key features of different common algorithms, some of which are based on the Park vector approach: 1) a technique reported in [81] based on the use of the modulus of the Park vector to normalize phase currents (known as 'errors of normalized currents average absolute values' (ENCAAV)), 2) a method presented in [82] that relies on the value of the absolute Park vector phase derivative (called the current Park vector phase and current polarity (CPVPCP)), 3) the normalized current average values [83] and 4) the normalized reference current errors (NRCEs) [80]. As [1] shows, the experimental results obtained from the integration of the four methods into a digital controller of a PMSM drive reveal that each method possesses a unique robustness, detection speed, computational burden implementation effort and tuning effort.…”

Overview of condition monitoring and operation control of electric power conversion systems in direct-drive wind turbines under faults

“…Open-circuit fault diagnosis of two power converters of a PMSG drive for wind turbines was presented in Ref. [125]. A diagnostic method was proposed for each power converter to allow for real-time detection and localization of multiple open-circuit faults.…”