Maximum Power Point Tracking in Variable Speed Wind Turbine Based on Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator Using Maximum Torque Sliding Mode Control Strategy

The present study was carried out in order to track the maximum power point in a variable speed turbine by minimizing electromechanical torque changes using a sliding mode control strategy. In this strategy, first, the rotor speed is set at an optimal point for different wind speeds. As a result of which, the tip speed ratio reaches an optimal point, mechanical power coefficient is maximized, and wind turbine produces its maximum power and mechanical torque. Then, the maximum mechanical torque is tracked using electromechanical torque. In this technique, tracking error integral of maximum mechanical torque, the error, and the derivative of error are used as state variables. During changes in wind speed, sliding mode control is designed to absorb the maximum energy from the wind and minimize the response time of maximum power point tracking (MPPT). In this method, the actual control input signal is formed from a second order integral operation of the original sliding mode control input signal. The result of the second order integral in this model includes control signal integrity, full chattering attenuation, and prevention from large fluctuations in the power generator output. The simulation results, calculated by using MATLAB/m-file software, have shown the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy for wind energy systems based on the permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG).