Non-Linear and Linear Model Based Controller Design for Variable-Speed Wind Turbines

Variable-speed, horizontal axis wind turbines use blade-pitch control to meet specified objectives for three regions of operation. This paper focuses on controller design for the constant power production regime. A simple, rigid, non-linear turbine model was used to systematically perform trade-off studies between two performance metrics. Minimization of both the deviation of the rotor speed fromthe desired speed and the motion of the actuator is obtained through systematic selection of proportional-integral-derivative controller gain values. The gain design is performed using a non-linear turbine model and two linear models. The linear models differ only in selection of linearization point. The gain combinations resulting from design based upon each of the three models are similar.Performance under each of the three gain combinations is acceptable according to the metrics selected. The importance of operating point selection for linear models is illustrated. Because the simulation runs efficiently, the non-linear model provides the best gain design, but careful selection of the linearization point can produce acceptable gain designs from linear models.