Comparative study between two protection schemes for DFIG-based wind generator

Fixed speed wind turbine generators system that uses induction generator as a wind generator has the stability problem similar to a synchronous generator. On the other hand, doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) has the flexibility to control its real and reactive powers independently while being operated in variable speed mode. This paper focuses on a scheme where IG is stabilized by using DFIG during grid fault. In that case, DFIG will be heavily stressed and a remedy should be found out to protect the frequency converter as well as to allow the independent control of real and reactive powers without loosing the synchronism. For that purpose, a crowbar protection switch or DC-link protecting device can be considered. This paper presents a comparative study between two protective schemes, a crowbar circuit connected across the rotor of the DFIG and a protective device connected in the DC-link circuit of the frequency converter. Simulation analysis by using PSCAD/EMTDC shows that both schemes could effectively protect the DFIG, but the latter scheme is superior to the former, because of less circuitry involved.