Fixed and adaptive step HCC algorithms for MPPT of the cylinders of Magnus wind turbines

This paper deals with the HCC algorithm (Hill Climbing Control) to optimize the performance of Magnus wind turbines reducing the response time to reach the maximum power point (MPPT Maximum Power Point Tracking) as well as to reduce fluctuations around that point. The Magnus turbines have cylinders instead of conventional blades and its operation is based on the physical principle known as the Magnus Effect. The Magnus turbines consume power for rotating the cylinders, so the MPPT performs tracking of the net power generated by subtracting the power consumed in the electric motor to drive the cylinders. The simulation results are presented for the proposed Magnus wind turbine system with measurements of mechanical shaft power including the controlled mechanical load torque and DC servo drive (DC servo drive and brushless DC motor). This system was designed to perform optimization studies of a turbine Magnus prototype. In the proposed HCC algorithm, the negative net power band uses a fixed step increment of cylinder rotation and the other parts of the curve use an adaptive step. As the curve slope tends to zero near the maximum point, the step increment decreases, thus minimizing the oscillations around that point.