Abstract

The wind turbine emulator (WTE) is of concern due to the fact that the wind energy conversion system (WECS) is a growing industry and needs further improvement. It is a key component of a test bench which provides the opportunity to investigate the effect of wind turbine parameters and characteristics on the system responses by modeling the wind turbine and the drive train. Several WTEs have been proposed by the researchers with different capabilities and degrees of complexity. The most important factors which have significant impact on the dynamic behavior of the WECS, as considered in the literature, are the wind turbine mass moment of inertia, system's natural frequency, pulsating (oscillatory) torque, and damping constant. In general, at least the effect of one of these facts was not included or not discussed in the reported WTEs. This Thesis addresses this problem while considering on a simplified model of a wind turbine which consists of a mass moment inertia (rotor and hub), a low speed side flexible shaft, an ideal gearbox, a high speed side rigid shaft, and an electric generator. The effect of the oscillatory torque is also considered in the model. The simulation results indicate that the simplified model of the wind turbine and the drive train allow the investigation of the above mentioned factors on the system responses. It also shows the different ways of exciting the system's mechanical mode. A 2-hp experimental set-up is implemented and tested with a dynamometer as a mechanical load and also with a self-excited induction generator operating in the regulated and unregulated stand-alone mode. The experimental results agree with the simulation results.