Performance of a Controller for Small Grid Connected Wind Turbines

Performance of a novel controller to connect/disconnect an induction-generator based wind turbine from the grid is presented in this paper. The designed controller senses the generator and grid voltages, frequencies, and current flow between the generator and the grid. A low cost instrumentation circuitry has been developed to measure the generator and the grid parameters. Based on the measurement of voltages and frequencies of the wind turbine generator and the grid side, a control decision is taken to connect the system to the grid. The controller makes decision to disconnect the system from the grid based on the current flow measurement between the wind turbine and the grid. The controller is now undergoing testing at the energy system Lab at the Memorial University of Newfoundland. The prototype controller has been developed using 'PIC16F877' micro-controller. This paper presents system details and some test results.