Energy flow principles of IGBT inverters in wind energy conversion systems

Two energy flow principles, defined as the voltage magnitude control principle (MCP) and the voltage phase control principle (PCP), are presented in this paper for wind energy conversion (WEC) grid-connected inverter systems using insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs). The MCP is for the WEC system to produce a correct energy flow from the wind turbine to the grid by adequate voltage magnitude coordination. Similarly, the PCP is to do the same work by adequate voltage phase coordination. Various methods based on the MCP are reviewed and classified into three major groups in terms of their application locations in the system. The PCP is first proposed in this paper for WEC although the principle has existed in power engineering for a long time. This paper presents the PCP development and its feasibility applied to wind energy conversion. The realization concerns are also presented for using this principle in wind energy conversion applications