2010 International Conference on Electrical and Control Engineering

Analysis of Low Voltage Ride Through Capability in

Wind Turbine Based on DFIG

Shan-Ying Li, Yu Sun, Tao Wu, Yu-Zhi Liang Xiao Yu，Jian-Ming Zhang
Electric Power System Research Division North China Electric Power University
NCEPRI, North China Grid Company Limited Baoding 071000, China
Beijing 100045, China

Abstract—In this paper the coordination of the low voltage ride
through capability and the crowbar protection of DFIG are
discussed. Different protection strategies for over-current and
low voltage protection are presented. Effect of different short-
circuit impedance, different wind generator pre-fault output
power and different fault types on transient stability of connected
grid are studied. Simulation in a simple power system with DFIG
is carried out based on the DIgSILENT/PowerFactory
environment, and some conclusions for the transient stability of
DFIG wind turbine under LVRT characteristic are obtained by
comparing simulation results of DFIG with different control
strategies, which will be advisable to design DFIG control and
protection schemes.
Keywords--doubly fed induction generator (DFIG); low voltges
ride through (LVRT); crowbar protection
I. INTRODUCTION
Wind energy as a renewable energy source has been
developed quickly in the past few decades. As the wind
generator installations have grown exponentially, tripping of
large amount of wind farms during grid voltage dip would
increase the risk of voltage collapse and grid disruptions.
Therefore, low voltage ride through (LVRT) capability is
required in grid codes of many countries [1, 2]. LVRT is very
critical for maintaining system stability [3, 4].
The DFIG has become more and more popular thanks to its
possession of LVRT capability while the penetration of wind
power generation soars in power systems today. The transient
response assessment of DFIG-based wind plants have been
discussed in previously published papers [5-7]. In paper [8] and
[9], over-voltages and over-currents in the rotor windings of
DFIG wind turbines is caused due to its sensitivity to abrupt
voltage dip, which can destroy the converter. The common
technique to solve the problem is to use the crowbar circuit to
protect converters [10]. When the high rotor current is induced,
the crowbar protection is activated and the rotor side converter
is blocked. In this case, the wind turbine acts as no longer a
DFIG but an ordinary induction machine, and keep themselves
on-line during the system event.
In this paper, different control and protect strategies,
combining crowbar circuit and LVRT requirement of wind
turbines with doubly-fed induction generators are compared. In
section Ⅱ, the crowbar operation is overviewed and LVRT
requirement of grid codes in China is introduced. In section Ⅲ,
the different control and protection strategies for DFIG wind
turbine is described, moreover, the effect of short-circuit
impedance and wind power on transient stability is studied in
DIgSILENT/PowerFactory environment. Some conclusions are
summarized in section Ⅳ.
II. LOW VOLTAGE RIDE THROUGH
A. Crowbar Protection
DFIG with crowbar protection circuit, shown in Figure 1, is
used to protect converter against the large rotor over-current
caused by abrupt voltage dip. Once it is detected that the rotor
side converter (RSC) current is great than 1.5 times of the rated
rotor current value, the crowbar circuit is activated and RSC is
blocked. In this way, the high current flows through the
crowbar circuit. Then the switch of the crowbar circuit is off
after 50-100ms so that RSC operation is recovered.
Figure 1. DFIG diagram with crowbar circuit
B. Low Voltage Ride Through (LVRT) Capability
A LVRT characteristic requirement curve in China grid
code specification is shown in Fig. 2. The characteristic shows
• For the voltage dip following grid disturbance down to
0.2p.u voltage at the point of common coupling, wind
turbine should keep on-line at least 625 milliseconds.
• Wind turbine should maintain on-line the voltage can
recover to 90% of nominal voltage level after the
duration of voltage dip is no less than 3s.
It can be seen the remained voltage value at the point of
common coupling and the minimal sustained duration the
DFIG has to be able to endure in Fig.2 below.

978-0-7695-4031-3/10 $26.00 © 2010 IEEE 3331

DOI 10.1109/iCECE.2010.812
 3) corwbar protection is out of service and voltage
protection is triggered.

DIgSILENT
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G1: ÎÞ¹¦¹¦ÂÊ G1: »ú¶Ëµçѹ

0.60 1.25

Figure 2. LVRT curve in Chinese Grid code specification 0.40

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III. LVRT SIMULATION SENARIOS 0.00

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-0.20

In this section, the crowbar protection circuit and voltage -0.40

ÇË°ô±£»¤¶¯×÷
0.549 s
0.000 p.u.
1.229 s
0.000 p.u. -0.25
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 [s] 2.00

protection are modeled and devised in power system package 0.00 0.50
G1: ת×ÓaÏàµçѹ
1.00 1.50 [s] 2.00 HV: 110kVĸÏßµçѹ
MV: 35kVĸÏßµçѹ
DIgSLIENT/PowerFactory, and the transient stability with
different protection strategies of DFIG wind turbine are
Figure 4. DFIG transient response with Strategy 1
compared. The power system used in simulation, as shown in
Fig. 3, is a simplified power system with a wind farm. Thirty

DIgSILENT
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doubly fed induction generators in wind farm are aggregated, 30.00

1.00

rated power 1.5MW each (the detailed parameters of DFIG are

0.75
20.00
0.50

listed in Appendix). Short circuit faults occurred at the middle 10.00

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voltage level (MV) bus-bar at t=0.5s, and the fault cleared after 0.00
0.00

800ms.
-10.00 -0.25
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 [s] 2.00 0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 [s] 2.00
G1: ÎÞ¹¦¹¦ÂÊ G1: »ú¶Ëµçѹ

0.40 1.25

1.00
External Grid 0.20
0.75

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0.00
0.25

HV -0.20 0.00

-0.25
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 [s] 2.00
-0.40
HV: 110kVĸÏßµçѹ
Tr1

0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 [s] 2.00

G1: ת×ÓaÏàµçѹ MV: 35kVĸÏßµçѹ

MV

Figure 5. DFIG transient response with Strategy 2

Tr2

DIgSILENT
40.00 1.25

WT1 1.00
30.00

0.75
G 20.00
~
0.50
G1
10.00
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0.00
0.00

Figure 3. A simplized power system diagram with aggregated wind -10.00

0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 [s] 2.00
-0.25
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 [s] 2.00
generators G1: ÎÞ¹¦¹¦ÂÊ G1: »ú¶Ëµçѹ

0.40 1.25

In the following simulation, the over-current protection is 0.20

1.00

carried out by crowbar circuit. The crowbar is activated under 0.75

0.50
the condition that the rotor side converter (RSC) current is 0.00
0.25

great than the 1.5 times rated rotor current value, and self- -0.20 0.00

disconnected after 60 milliseconds. The voltage protection is -0.25

0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 [s] 2.00

defined according to the LVRT characteristic curve given in -0.40

0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 [s] 2.00 HV: 110kVĸÏßµçѹ
G1: ת×ÓaÏàµçѹ MV: 35kVĸÏßµçѹ
Fig. 2.
Figure 6. DFIG transient response with Strategy 3
A. Influence of Different Control and Protection Strategies
Three control and protection strategies are discussed in the The simulation results are shown in Fig 4-6. As shown in
section Fig. 4, in this case, the crowbar circuit is activated twice, at
t=0.5s and t=1.2s, respectively. Once the crowbar circuit is
1) crowbar protection in service and voltage protection is
connected, the voltage drops and reactive power to grid
out of service. decreases, wind turbines now act as ordinary induction
2) corwbar protection is out of service and voltage machines and remain on-line through the system events. With
protection is triggered. Strategy 2 exploited in the simulation, the DFIG trip from the

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 grid since its voltage drop below to 20% its nominal voltage
value, as shown in Fig. 5. However, DFIG feed continuous
reactive power to the grid before tripping. It can be seen that, at
the beginning of the voltage dip, a high current peak sets the
crowbar on and reactive power and voltage drops. After 60
milliseconds, the crowbar circuit disconnects and DFIG is off-
line.
B. Influence of Short-circuit Impedence
Two different short-circuit impedances are used in the
simulation, namely, Zshort=0ohm and Zshort=0.6ohm. The
protection strategy 1 is considered in the simulation. The fault
is the same as section A and the results are shown in figure 7.
The simulation result shows when the short-circuit
impedance is increased, the terminal voltage of DFIG is higher
than that of low impedance during the fault, and short circuit
current is decreased.
C. Influence of Wind Turbine Power
Scenarios of two different wind power pre-fault output, rated
power output and 30% rated power, are compared in the
simulations. The fault and protection strategy are same as in
section B, and the results are shown in Fig. 8.
Fig. 8 shows that the crowbar is activated twice for DFIG
with rated power output, while once for 30% rated power.
When the fault occurred in the wind farm with rated power
DFIG, the voltage dips abruptly and rotor current increases,
crowbar circuit is connected due to the current reaches the
over-current protection predefined value, and crowbar is
disconnected after 60ms. The change of wind turbine power
has a significant effect on initial inrush current of wind farm.
For the other variables in fault following the fault, it works less.

DIgSILENT
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0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 [s] 2.00
G1: Óй¦¹¦ÂÊ 0.00

G1: Óй¦¹¦ÂÊ -30.00

60.00 -60.00

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30.00
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0.00 0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 [s] 2.00
G1: ÎÞ¹¦¹¦ÂÊ
-30.00
G1: ÎÞ¹¦¹¦ÂÊ
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DIgSILENT
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G1: ÎÞ¹¦¹¦ÂÊ
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DIgSILENT

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1.00
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0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 [s] 2.00
0.25 G1: »ú¶Ëµçѹ
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-0.25
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 [s] 2.00 1.25
G1: »ú¶Ëµçѹ
1.00
G1: »ú¶Ëµçѹ
0.75
1.25
0.50
1.00

0.75 0.25

0.50 0.00

0.25 -0.25
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 [s] 2.00
0.00
MV: 35kVĸÏßµçѹ
-0.25
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 [s] 2.00 MV: 35kVĸÏßµçѹ
MV: 35kVĸÏßµçѹ
MV: 35kVĸÏßµçѹ
DIgSILENT

200.00

160.00
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40.00 0.00
0.00
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-40.00
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 [s] 2.00 G1: µçÁ÷
G1: µçÁ÷
G1: µçÁ÷
G1: µçÁ÷
0.60
0.80

0.60 0.40

0.40 0.20
0.20
0.00
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-0.40 -0.40
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 [s] 2.00 0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 [s] 2.00
G1: ת×ÓaÏàµçѹ G1: ת×ÓaÏàµçѹ
G1: ת×ÓaÏàµçѹ G1: ת×ÓaÏàµçѹ

Figure 7. DFIG response with different short-circuit impedences (dotted line: Figure 8. DFIG responses with different wind generation prefault output
Zshort=0 ohm; dash line: Zshort=0.6 ohm) power (dotted line: rated power; dash line: 30% rated power)

3333
D. Influence of Different Fault
Two different faults, two-phase and three-phase short
circuit faults, are performed in the simulation. The control and
protection strategy is the same as in the section B, and the
results are shown in Fig. 9.
The simulation shows the crowbar is activated twice for
three-phase short-circuit fault, and once for two-phase short-
circuit faults. The short current during the fault for two-phase
short-circuit fault is greater than that of three-phase fault. This
is because of the negative sequence component in the stator
voltage for the unsymmetrical fault and it can lead to high slip
which aggravates the over-current of DFIG rotor.
IV. CONCLUSION
The coordination of the low voltage ride through
characteristic and the crowbar protection are studied in the
paper. Even though the simulation analysis is carried out in a
simple wind plant, the results can be also true to transient
analysis of large DFIG-based wind farms. The simulation
analysis shows, during the grid disturbance, DFIG could supply
the reactive power to support the voltage recovery. The DFIG
wind turbine works as an ordinary induction machine while the
crowbar is triggered following the deep voltage dip and keep
the DFIG out of tripping, which give a way of realizing the
LVRT capacity. Moreover, the short circuit impedance, wind
generation power output, and fault types are also have
significantly effects on the transient stability of DFIG and
LVRT capacity. The coordination between the crowbar

DIgSILENT
120.00

80.00 protection and voltage protection of DFIG has to be studies

40.00 before installation. Selection of proper schemes and parameters
0.00

-40.00
of wind machines are critical for stability of the connected
-80.00 power system.
-120.00
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 [s] 2.00
G1: Óй¦¹¦ÂÊ
G1: Óй¦¹¦ÂÊ APPENDIX
60.00

30.00
A. Transformer Parameters
0.00
Transformer 1: S=2.5MVA, Vh=35kV, Vl=0.69kV, Uk%=6;
-30.00

-60.00
Transformer 2: S=80MVA, Vh=110kV, Vl=35kV, Uk%=11;
-90.00

-120.00
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 [s] 2.00
B. DFIG Parameters
G1: ÎÞ¹¦¹¦ÂÊ
G1: ÎÞ¹¦¹¦ÂÊ Prated=1.5MW, Vrated=0.69kV, Rs=0.01pu, Rr=0.01pu, Ls=0.1pu,
Lr=0.1pu, Lm=3.50pu, Lss= Ls + Lm, Lrr= Lr + Lm
DIgSILENT

1.20

1.00

0.80
REFERENCES
0.60

0.40
[1] Bolik S M, “Grid requirements challenges for wind turbines,” 4th
0.20
International workshop on large scale integration of wind power and
0.00
G1: »ú¶Ëµçѹ
0.50 1.00 1.50 [s] 2.00
transmission networks for offshore wind farms, Billund, Denmark, 2003
G1: »ú¶Ëµçѹ
[2] SP Transimission Ltd, Consultation on Technical Requirements from
1.20
Wind Farms, 2004.
1.00
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0.80
through system influence on the energy production,” Wind Energy, vol
0.60
8(3), pp. 251-263, 2005
0.40

0.20
[4] Bing X, Fox B, Flylnn D, “Study of fault ride-through for DFIG based
0.00
MV: 35kVĸÏßµçѹ
0.50 1.00 1.50 [s] 2.00
wind turbine,” IEEE Trans. On Electric Utility Deregulation, vol. 1(5),
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DIgSILENT

200.00

160.00
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120.00
[6] Mustafa Kayikci, J.V. Milannovie, “Assessing transient response of
80.00
DFIG-based wind plants – the influence of model simplifications and
40.00
parameters,” IEEE Trans. on Power Systems, vol. 23(2), pp. 545-554,
0.00
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 [s] 2.00 2008
G1: µçÁ÷
G1: µçÁ÷ [7] Han Xiao-qing and Shi Yan, “Simulation on control and transient
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0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 [s] 2.00 [9] Zhang Jianhua, Chen Xingying, etc, “Three-phase short circuit analysis
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