Experimental comparative study between MPPT, hybrid P&O and fuzzy control for a small wind turbine application

Abstract

This study focuses on a comparison between different maximum power extraction controls for a small wind turbine application. In this case, a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) coupled to a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) is used. The analysis is performed for variable winds, so that a real small wind turbine application is simulated. An experimental platform and a wind tunnel are used to recreate the different wind profiles. Diverse controls are compared, a "classical" MPPT, a hybrid Perturb & Observe control and a fuzzy control. Artificial intelligence allows the creation of control algorithms that are not bound by the mechanical parameters of the wind turbine, thus avoiding the need to characterize the wind turbine and define the maximum power curve. It is determined that, for almost constant wind profiles, the hybrid Perturb & Observe extracts more energy. However, for the same profile with greater variability, the fuzzy controller extracts more energy.