A New Adaptive Control Algorithm for Maximum Power Point Tracking for Wind Energy Conversion Systems

This paper presents a new adaptive control algorithm for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) in wind energy systems. A mathematical model of a wind turbine system is also provided. The proposed control algorithm allows the generator to track the optimal operation points of the wind turbine system under fluctuating wind conditions and the tracking process speeds up over time. This algorithm does not require the knowledge of intangible turbine mechanical characteristics such as its power coefficient curve, power characteristic or torque characteristic. It employs a search and reuse concept, a modified Hill Climb Searching (HCS) method and two newly defined loops: change detection loop (CDL) and operation point adjustment loop (OPAL). The adaptive nature of the proposed algorithm eliminates the need for customized algorithms that are optimal for only one particular turbine. It is also a solution to achieve fast optimum power point detection after its initial learning process. A simulated system has been built in PSIM 7.0 for mathematical verification of the wind energy system and for the verification of the proposed algorithm. The algorithm is realized in C++ script and detailed descriptions of the proposed control algorithm are provided for illustration purposes.