Robust adaptive direct speed control of PMSG-based airborne wind energy system using FCS-MPC method

Abstract

Electricity generation using airborne wind energy system (AWES) tends to be more efficient than that of conventional wind turbines due to their ability at extracting higher speeds from wind at higher altitudes by the tethered kite generator system (TKGS). The speed regulation of a permanent synchronous machine (PMSM) attached to a kite to maximize harvested power from wind is the topic of the present research. To track the optimal speed produced by TKGS, a finite-control-set model predictive control (FCS-MPC) with a new cost function is directly employed to generate appropriate gate signals for a 3-level neutral point clamped (3-L NPC) inverter that drives a PMSM. A novel adaptive algorithm is also provided for adjusting the weight coefficients of the cost function to improve the system's performance across a wider range of change in the operating conditions. Moreover, a terminal sliding mode disturbance observer (TSMDO) is designed to estimate the load torque. A terminal sliding mode speed controller (TSMSC) is also used to produce the current reference for the optimizing algorithm in FCS-MPC. The proposed control scheme eliminates the need for a cascade structure while significantly reduces current deformation and torque oscillations. Additionally, the controller operates as fast as a traditional direct speed controller without the use of a cascade structure and is more robust against parameter uncertainties. To illustrate the success of the suggested controller, the results of simulations are presented in MATLAB/SIMULINK® software. The performance of the proposed technique is evaluated in three situations which simulates a grid-connected PMSM fed by a back to back 3-L NPC. In the first scenario, it is demonstrated that the suggested technique performs well when the system's operational conditions vary. The performance of the adaptive tuning mechanism of the cost function weight factors is investigated in the second scenario, which takes into account model parameter uncertainty. The impacts of the disturbance observer (DO) on the system performance are explored in the final scenario, and it is discovered that the disturbance observer may increase the speed response and DC link voltage tracking performance. All of the simulation results show that the new technique outperformed the traditional FSC-MPC.

Keywords: 3-Level neutral point clamped; Airborne wind energy system; Finite-control-set model predictive control; Load torque observer; Permanent magnet synchronous machine; Terminal sliding mode speed control.