Maximum power point tracking of wind turbine based on optimal power curve detection under variable wind speed

This paper aims to propose a new control algorithm to automatically detect the optimal power-speed curve of a wind energy conversion system, under variable wind speed, for maximum power point tracking (MPPT). The optimal power speed curve is determined by controlling the wind turbine with a staircase rotor speed set-points to obtain the maximum power points accurately with an optimizing algorithm. The control algorithm is implemented experimentally on a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG), which is directly coupled to a wind turbine emulated by a DC motor. The experimental results validate that the power curve is determined and optimized accurately with the proposed algorithm. Therefore, the wind turbine can be controlled to track the maximum power coefficient without needing prior knowledge of the wind turbine characteristics.