Faults in the collection grid of offshore wind farms

This paper deals with transient conditions in the collection grid of offshore wind farms under different faults. A model of a standard wind farm was established in two versions, with a floating and a grounded collection grid respectively. Line to ground faults and three-phase to ground faults were applied at critical points at worst-case phase angle and the results compared. The simulations show that it is better with a grounded collection grid, since lack of a ground reference will prevent the system from recovering after a line to ground fault.