A new maximum power point tracking technique for wind power conversion systems

A new sensor-less maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique is introduced for wind power conversion applications. This new technique is founded upon a modified variable step hill climb search (HCS) method. The modifications are made, based on a simple and novel idea. The step sizes of the hill climbing technique are varied throughout the MPPT operation, entirely independent of the wind speed and the rotor speed, without requirement for any prior information of the wind power conversion system's parameters and configurations. These features make this new technique applicable on different kinds of wind power conversion systems. The novel method introduced in this study, exhibits very fast performance and high accuracy in sensing wind speed variations as well as maintaining its performance under extreme conditions, such as high wind disturbances. Computer simulations are performed in order to evaluate the new technique and the results support the feasibility of the presented MPPT technique.