TY - JOUR
T1 - An Update on the Electronic Connection Issues of Low Power SWTs in AC-Coupled Systems
T2 - A Review and Case Study
AU - Bufanio, Rubén
AU - Arribas, Luis
AU - de la Cruz, Javier
AU - Karlsson, Timo
AU - Amadío, Mariano
AU - Zappa, Andrés Enrique
AU - Marasco, Damián
N1 - Funding Information:
This research received external funding from the REGEDIS network within the Programa Iberoamericano de Ciencia y Tecnolog?a para el Desarrollo (CYTED) [62].
APC fee paid by CIEMAT.
PY - 2022/3/1
Y1 - 2022/3/1
N2 - Small wind turbines (SWTs) have been a common option for rural electrification during recent decades. Recently, an application for connecting these devices to the grid was proposed. This requires an AC-coupled configuration, which brings the need for a power converter necessary for connection to the AC bus. This publication analyzes the requirements and commercial availability of such power converters, coming first to a conclusion on the lack of existing electronic power converters for SWTs, mainly in the lowest power range (<1 kW). As a result of this need, PV power converters were proposed, as they are both economically competitive and commercially available. The use of PV power converters for SWT AC-coupled applications is therefore analyzed as well, bringing a second conclusion: their use is possible but not straightforward, as some adaptations have to be taken into account. Finally, a suggested adaptation is proposed, in terms of hardware and software; the first field results of a prototype are presented, and they look very promising.
AB - Small wind turbines (SWTs) have been a common option for rural electrification during recent decades. Recently, an application for connecting these devices to the grid was proposed. This requires an AC-coupled configuration, which brings the need for a power converter necessary for connection to the AC bus. This publication analyzes the requirements and commercial availability of such power converters, coming first to a conclusion on the lack of existing electronic power converters for SWTs, mainly in the lowest power range (<1 kW). As a result of this need, PV power converters were proposed, as they are both economically competitive and commercially available. The use of PV power converters for SWT AC-coupled applications is therefore analyzed as well, bringing a second conclusion: their use is possible but not straightforward, as some adaptations have to be taken into account. Finally, a suggested adaptation is proposed, in terms of hardware and software; the first field results of a prototype are presented, and they look very promising.
KW - AC-coupled
KW - Electronic power converter
KW - Overvoltage protection
KW - Prototype field test
KW - Small wind turbine
KW - Solar PV inverter
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85126997449&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/en15062082
DO - 10.3390/en15062082
M3 - Review Article
AN - SCOPUS:85126997449
SN - 1996-1073
VL - 15
JO - Energies
JF - Energies
IS - 6
M1 - 2082
ER -