A simple wind power generating system with permanent magnet type synchronous generator

The authors propose an inexpensive wind power generating system in this paper. Existing wind power generating systems are mostly of large capacity (over 100 kW) and high-priced (about 1000 USS/kW). Because of the erratic changes of wind power and of smoothing peak power, an AC/DC converter-fed battery system is recommended. Thus, one requires the exact rotating speed of generators (especially in the case of synchronous generators) to use AC/DC converters with high quality. These factors are increasing the cost of such systems. The authors adopt a compact permanent magnet type synchronous generator, which doesn't need exciting current, and a step-up/down buck-boost chopper to wind power generating system of a few kW output without position or speed sensor. In addition, they employ an inexpensive rectifier circuit using a diode bridge instead of an AC/DC power converter with PWM method. Using these methods, they achieve a simple and inexpensive wind power generating system.