Torque ripple minimization and maximum power point tracking of a permanent magnet reluctance generator for wind energy conversion system

A permanent magnet reluctance generator (PMRG), which is the member of switched reluctance machine (SRM) family, has an extremely simple and robust structure: no winding on both rotor and stator. Required flux for energy conversion is provided by magnets buried in stator yokes. Thus, it seems to be suitable for wind energy conversion systems (WECSs) for reducing power generation cost to the level of fossil energy conversion systems. In a PMRG based conventional WECS, the PMRG is often accompanied by a simple diode bridge and a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controlled converter. This type of converter topology does not allow utilizing any torque ripple minimization strategy. Thus, the system inevitably suffers from large torque ripples due to the doubly salient structure of both stator and rotor of the PMRG. Torque ripples propagate acoustic noise, vibrations, and mechanical stress in the turbine-shaft. Exposing to such ripples may result serious failure or damage in the WECS. In this paper, a novel ...