Wind Energy Systems: Solutions for Power Quality and Stabilization

Unlike conventional power plants, wind plants emit no air pollutants or greenhouse gases―and wind energy is a free, renewable resource. However, the induction machines commonly used as wind generators have stability problems similar to the transient stability of synchronous machines. To minimize power, frequency, and voltage fluctuations caused by network faults or random wind speed variations, control mechanisms are necessary. Wind Energy Systems: Solutions for Power Quality and Stabilization clearly explains how to solve stability and power quality issues of wind generator systems.

Covering fundamental concepts of wind energy conversion systems, the book discusses several means to enhance the transient stability of wind generator systems. It also explains the methodologies for minimizing fluctuations of power, frequency, and voltage.

Topics covered include:

• An overview of wind energy and wind energy conversion systems
• Fundamentals of electric machines and power electronics
• Types of wind generator systems
• Challenges in integrating wind power into electricity grids
• Solutions for power quality problems
• Methods for improving transient stability during network faults
• Methods for minimizing power fluctuations of variable-speed wind generator systems

This accessible book helps researchers and engineers understand the relative effectiveness of each method and select a suitable tool for wind generator stabilization. It also offers students an introduction to wind energy conversion systems, providing insights into important grid integration and stability issues.

Mohd. Hasan Ali received a BScEng in electrical and electronic engineering from Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET), Bangladesh, in 1995, and an MScEng and PhD in electrical and electronic engineering from Kitami Institute of Technology, Japan, in 2001 and 2004, respectively. Currently, he is working as an assistant professor at the electrical and computer engineering department of the University of Memphis, Tennessee. Ali’s research interests include power system dynamics, stability and control, smart-grid and micro-grid power systems, renewable energy systems, energy storage systems, electric machines and motor drives, application of power electronics to power systems, flexible alternating current transmission systems (FACTS) devices, and application of fuzzy logic control to power systems. He has authored and coauthored more than 100 publications, including journal and conference papers. Ali is a senior member of the IEEE Power and Energy Society.