Power Control of Wind Energy Conversion

System using Super Capacitor

Dr. Nitin K. Dhote , Mrs. Swapna M. Choudhary Dr. Rakesh Shrivastav Mrs. Kirti Vaidya Dr.
Deva Brinda

Professor, St. Vincent Pallotti College of Engineering &Technology, Nagpur

Assistant Professor, G.H.Raisoni College of Engineering, Nagpur
Assistant Professor, St. Vincent Pallotti College of Engineering &Technology, Nagpur
Professor, Matoshri College of Engineering and Research Center, Nashik
Subject Matter Expert, L&T EduTech

ABSTRACT: To attain the wind power smoothing control, Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS) using batteries
combined with super capacitors is proposed. The feasibility of power smoothing using a Super Capacitor for WECS is
investigated using a MATLAB simulation. The simulation determines the system configuration which can assure the
expected energy output to the grid. The proposed energy storage system can compensate for all types of rapid changes
originating from wind speed fluctuations. It is proved that fluctuations in wind power can be eliminated by large
storage batteries, whereas small transients in power flow can be eliminated by the supercapacitor bank which increases
the life of the battery.
.
KEYWORDS: Renewable Energy Sources, Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS), Super Capacitor , MATLAB,
Energy Storage

I. INTRODUCTION

The exhaustion of conventional energy resources around the world has required urgent research into alternative energy
sources. One of the many alternatives, wind power, was seen as promising in meeting the ever-growing energy
demand. The wind sources of energy are inexhaustible, the conversion processes are pollution-free, and their
availability is free. However, the main drawback of the utilization of wind energy sources is that wind power systems
generally experience high fluctuation in power supply from wind turbine generators due to the turbulent nature of the
wind. Wind energy is preferred over solar energy sources as solar energy is unavailable at night. It is preferred over
biogas plant as biogas plant contains waste materials that contain poisonous gases which are harmful to living beings.
The further option is the evolving hydrogen technology. Though hydrogen energy is widely discussed [1,2, 3], there is
no grid-connected system . A favorable nature of wind exists in India as Indian coastline stretches about 5700 Km on
the mainland and 7500 Km on island territories. The geological feature supports the policy of wind generation in India.
Wind power generation [4-5] faces some difficulties such as poor transient stability, electromagnetic transients,
difficulties in power leveling and energy balancing and poor power quality . The main drawback of the utilization of
wind energy sources is that wind power systems generally experience high fluctuation in power supply from wind
turbine generators due to the turbulent nature of the wind.
The wind power is given by , Pw = k.V3 ………………..(1)
Where v is wind velocity . Hence small changes in wind velocity yield large changes in the wind power. These are
directly reflected in the electrical output of the wind energy conversion system (WECS) unless smoothing is applied.
Managing fluctuations in the wind have always been the greatest challenge for providing a large portion of reliable
electricity supply from wind energy. To eliminate this problem of wind generation, energy storage devices are used.

II. SUPER CAPACITOR

Energy storage can improve the efficiency and reliability of the electric system by reducing the requirements for
spinning reserves to meet peak power utility demands, making better use of efficient base load generation, and allowing
greater use of intermittent renewable energy technologies. Many energy storage technologies have been developed or
are under development for electric power applications, including
Examples:
1. Large storage batteries
2. Compressed air energy storage (CAES)
3. Pumped hydropower
4. Superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES)
5. Flywheel energy storage
6. Super Capacitors
A comparison of operating characteristics of battery , normal capacitor, and super capacitor[6] is shown in Table 1. The
characteristics of the super capacitor are better than the battery and conventional capacitors such as a longer lifetime,
higher power density and faster response (few seconds).

Table1. Comparison between battery , capacitor and super capacitor

Battery Capacitor Super capacitor

Operating characteristic

Specific Energy [Wh/kg] 90-100 1-3 0.1-0.3

Specific Power [W/kg] 80-100 1000-3000

107 - 108
Time of charge [s] >1,000 0.3 to30
10-3 to 10-6
Time of discharge [s] 103-104 0.3to30
10-3 to 10-6
Cyclability [times] 1,000
10-5-10-6 109- 1010

Typical lifetime [years] 3-5 5-10 25-30

70-85 85 to 98
Efficiency [%] > 95

Super capacitor [7] consists of 2 nonreactive absorbent plates suspended in an electrolyte. The voltage is applied across
2 plates of a super capacitor. Negative ions in the electrolyte are attracted towards the positive plate and vice versa.
Thus it creates 2 layers of capacitive storage both at the positive and negative plates. . Structure of a super capacitor is
shown in Fig.1.Super capacitor is also known as an ultra capacitor or electrochemical double-layer capacitor. The
energy storage mechanism in a supercapacitor involves no chemical reaction . This mechanism is highly reversible. It
allows the super capacitor to be charged and discharged several times. Although it may be considered a relatively
simple layered system, it is only upon closer consideration of the nature of each component that the real complexity is
revealed

Fig.1 Structure of super capacitor

2.1 Principal of Energy Storage
Electrochemical capacitors store the electrical energy in an electrochemical double layer formed at a solid/electrolyte
interface. Positive and negative ion charges within the electrolyte accumulate at the surface of the solid electrode and
compensate for the electronic charge on the electrode surface. The electrical energy stored in the super capacitor is
given as
 2
E =1/2 CV ............ (2)

Where , E is the energy in joules [J]

V is the rated or operating voltage of the super capacitor
C is capacitance [F]

2.2 Applications of Super Capacitor

Super capacitors are excellent solutions in several system configurations when used alone, or combined with other
energy sources.
Examples of applications [8-10] include:
1. Quick-charge applications which can be charged in seconds and then discharged over a few minutes. (Power tools
and toys are two examples)
2. Short-term support for uninterruptible power systems, where the super capacitor provides the power for short outages,
or as a bridge to a
3. Generator set or other continuous backup power supply.
4. Load-leveling an energy-rich, power-poor energy source such as a solar array.
5. Supporting power buses when they switch from one source to another .
6. Low-current, long-duration requirements such as computer memory backup
7. Low-power devices for memory data backup.
8. Hybrid electric vehicles
9. In telecommunications,
10. Power control in elevators

2.3 Difficulties in Super Capacitor

The super capacitor has a low operating voltage. The maximum operating voltage of a supercapacitor is near 3 volts ,
All applications operate at higher voltages. To get the desired application voltage , the super capacitors are connected in
series . As the capacitance of each super capacitor is not the same, series connected super capacitors have unequal
voltage distribution. Capacitance is directly proportional to DC voltage. Voltage distribution of series connected super
capacitors is a function of capacitance and leakage current (its internal resistance).To equalize the voltage of super
capacitors, the bypass resistors are connected in parallel with each super capacitor. Fig.2 shows voltage equalization of
a super capacitor using bypass resistors. Bypass resistor maintains equalize charge level at each super capacitor thus
avoiding un equalized charging of the super capacitor.

Fig.2 Voltage equalization using a resistor

III. MODELING OF WIND GENERATOR AND SUPER CAPACITOR

Modeling of the wind farm and the super capacitor is done using MATLAB Simscape Electrical toolbox [11-12]. A
wind farm consisting of six 1.5-MW wind turbines is connected to a 25-KV distribution system that exports power to a
120-kV grid through a 25-Km , 25-KV feeder. The 600kW wind farm is simulated by three pairs of 200kW wind
turbines. Wind turbines use squirrel-cage induction generators (IG). The stator winding is connected directly to the 50
Hz grid and the rotor is driven by a variable-pitch wind turbine. The Working system voltage is 600V. The number of
super capacitors connected in series is 200 and voltage of each super capacitor is taken at 3V. MATLAB model for
WECS is shown in Fig.3.
 +

+ Wse Storage Error

-

Control

Fig.3 MATLAB Model for WECS using super capacitor with a battery
Power exchange with storage system is given by
Wst = Ww—Wf --------------------(3)
Where , Ww is actual wind power and Wf is forecasted power. For forecast time interval T, The forecast wind power is
𝑡−𝑇
∫𝑡−2𝑇 𝑊𝑤(𝜏)𝑑𝜏
given by 𝑊𝑓 = -------------------(4)
𝑇

𝑡−𝑇
∫𝑡−2𝑇 𝑊𝑤(𝜏)𝑑𝜏−𝑊𝑤(𝑡)
Storage power is given by 𝑊𝑠𝑡(𝑡) = ---------------- (5)
𝑇

Battery Current is given by 𝐼𝑏(𝑡) = 𝐼𝑠𝑡(𝑡) − 𝐼𝑐(𝑡) ------------------(6)

Where, Ist is storage current and Ic is super capacitor current
𝐶𝑑𝑉𝑑𝑐
Capacitor current is given by 𝐼𝑐(𝑡) = ------------------ (7)
𝑑𝑡
Storage power is given by Wst (t) = Ist(t) * Vdc(t) -----------(8)

The Simulink results for WECS without super capacitor are shown in Fig.4. The figure shows the large fluctuations in
the waveforms of wind power, grid power, and storage power.
 Fig.4. Simulation results for WECS without a super capacitor.

The Simulink results for WECS with super capacitor bank of 3Φ, delta connected 11.5F, 600V is shown in Fig.5.. The
Simulink result of Wind Power (a), Grid Power (b) , Storage Power (c) , Battery Power (d) is shown in Fig.5. The
figure shows almost no fluctuations in the waveforms.
 Fig.5. Simulation results for WECS with a super capacitor.

IV. CONCLUSION
The integration of batteries with super capacitor into WECS improves the predictability of the wind power and assures
a very smooth power output to the grid. A comparison of the characteristics of the battery, standard capacitor, and
super capacitor is done . The comparison shows that the characteristics of the super capacitor are better than the battery
and conventional capacitor such as longer lifetime, higher power density and faster response. Modeling of wind farm
and the super capacitor is done using MATLAB simulation. Simulation results show that fluctuations in the wind
power , grid power, and storage power are minimised by the use of a Super capacitor. Due to the combination of a
super capacitor bank in parallel to the battery , longer battery life can be expected.

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