Optimal flux magnitude tracking with application to fault-tolerant control of wind turbine generators

This paper concerns with wind turbine generator fault-tolerant control that avoids system shut-down and enables safe operation with less than nominal power production. We focus on generator stator isolation inter-turn fault that can be characterized before triggering the safety device and applied for any type of generator used in wind turbines. A low complexity model predictive tracking controller is proposed to achieve very accurate flux modulation that prevents the fault propagation while power delivery under fault is deteriorated as less as possible compared to healthy machine conditions. Presented fault-tolerant control strategy is developed taking into account its modular implementation and installation in available control systems of existing wind turbines to extend their life cycle and energy production. Simulation results for the case of a 700 kW wind turbine are presented.