Minimum-Threshold Crowbar for a Fault-Ride-Through Grid-Code-Compliant DFIG Wind Turbine

Doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) technology is the dominant technology in the growing global market for wind power generation, due to the combination of variable-speed operation and a cost-effective partially rated power converter. However, the DFIG is sensitive to dips in supply voltage and without specific protection to “ride-through” grid faults, a DFIG risks damage to its power converter due to overcurrent and/or overvoltage. Conventional converter protection via a sustained period of rotor-crowbar closed circuit leads to poor power output and sustained suppression of the stator voltages. A new minimum-threshold rotor-crowbar method is presented in this paper, improving fault response by reducing crowbar application periods to 11-16 ms, successfully diverting transient overcurrents, and restoring good power control within 45 ms of both fault initiation and clearance, thus enabling the DFIG to meet grid-code fault-ride-through requirements. The new method is experimentally verified and evaluated using a 7.5-kW test facility.

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