The Parallel Virtual Infinite Capacitor Applied to DC-Link Voltage Filtering for Wind Turbines

Abstract

Abstract:We propose the parallel virtual infinite capacitor (PVIC) concept, which refers to two virtual infinite capacitors (VIC) connected to the same DC link and sharing one capacitor, one tuned to low frequencies (LF) and one tuned to high frequencies (HF). A PVIC can suppress voltage variations (ripple) in a wider frequency range than a usual VIC. The LF-VIC is controlled by a sliding mode controller to regulate the low-frequency component of the voltage to its reference value, and by a proportional-integral (PI) controller to maintain its state of charge within the desired operating range and achieve the 'plug-and-play' pattern of PVIC. The HF-VIC is controlled by another sliding mode controller to limit the high-frequency ripples and also to keep its state of charge within a reasonable operating interval. As our main application, we use the PVIC to replace a DC-link capacitor for voltage filtering on the DC link of a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG), which is driven by a WindPact (WP) 1.5-MW wind turbine under different grid conditions with turbulent wind input. The simulation study indicates that the PVIC provides much better voltage stabilisation than a DC-link capacitor with the same capacitance, especially in the low frequency range.

Topological Overview of Auxiliary Source Circuits for Grid-Tied Converters

“…Figure 20 presents the VIC control structure; a detailed control process explanation is found in [97]. Note that the VIC has become more efficient in [98] with lossless zero-voltage switching realization, and a variety of VIC-based ASC applications can be found on the capacitor-supported power conversion system, such as MMCs, wind turbine systems, and PFCs in [99][100][101].…”