Implementation of a wind turbine emulator test bench using a squirrel cage induction machine

The environmental effects of the massive usage of carbon-based fuels are leading the trends of change in the energy production and consumption profile, which is characterized by seeking clean alternatives of energy generation and by optimizing the energy consumption efficiency. Among these clean alternatives, the wind power system applications are increasing more rapidly worldwide. Thus, it becomes important to develop researches regarding these systems, their control and connection to the power systems. This paper presents in detail the implementation of a wind turbine emulator, composed by two mechanically coupled squirrel cage induction machines, the first one driven by a converter in order to reproduce in the system shaft the wind turbine torque, and the second one representing the generator. The induction machine mathematical model is presented as well as the theory of rotor field oriented control. The turbine mathematical model is represented in the software MATLAB/Simulink and a simulation is carried out in order to provide a torque reference to be given to the converter.