Theme 3: Wind Power Engineering

Wind Power Engineering

Theme Leader: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , University of Toronto

Theme 3 focuses on wind energy in power systems as it relates to 1) power electronic converters (PECs) and electrical machines in a single wind turbine, 2) control and protection strategies for wind turbines and wind farms, and 3) integration of wind energy systems into existing power grids at the utility scale and Distributed Generation (DG) level.

Research projects under Theme 3 will mitigate or eliminate many technical barriers to wind–grid integration in Canada. Its innovations will maximize wind energy output at the DG level and reduce wind energy fluctuations at the utility scale, laying the foundation for higher levels of wind–grid penetration.

Project 3.1: Next-Generation Power Electronic Converters for Wind Power - will develop innovative conversion systems and control technologies for wind power, focusing on PEC-based technologies with multi-level/multi-module configurations.

Project 3.2: Supervisory Control and Power Management of a Grid-Interactive Hybrid Wind System - Analytical tools designed in this project will evaluate how electrical machine parameters affect the wind energy conversion process, and will use those data to design PEC systems and controls for optimal wind turbine performance.

Project 3.3: Next-Generation Control/Protection Systems for Wind Power - will produce control/protection strategies to facilitate the optimal operation of a wind turbine, wind farm, and hybrid wind–storage unit under various grid configurations and conditions.

Project 3.4: Grid Integration of Wind Turbines as Distributed-Generation Units - will design a universal grid interconnection system for wind turbines as DG units; the system will possess the detection, protection, anti-islanding and system-monitoring features needed to meet DG interconnection standards.

Project 3.5: Grid Integration of Wind Farms in Interconnected Power Systems - proposes a systematic approach for investigating and qualifying issues of integrating wind farms (with or without storage components) with interconnected power systems and will develop innovative measures to prevent or mitigate wind–grid integration issues.

Project 3.6: Mathematical Models and Study Tools - will investigate wind turbine and wind farm behaviour in the context of power systems.