Development of a simulator for variable speed wind turbines

As part of its educational and research mission, the Wind Energy Research Laboratory at the University of Texas at El Paso began to investigate variable speed control of wind turbines in 1994. Variable speed control strategies are being investigated in an attempt to improve the performance of wind turbines in terms of increasing the energy captured from the wind and reducing system fatigue loading. These investigations have been carried out using an experimental simulation of a wind turbine's drive train and using numerical simulations. This paper presents a history of the development of an experimental wind turbine simulator and dynamometer for studying variable speed control and it includes a description of the completed system. Preliminary results from this system are presented. The ultimate goal of this effort is to develop a platform for studying variable speed control strategies in a controlled environment, prior to implementing the best of these strategies in the field.