Comprehensive transient analysis for low-voltage system in a wind turbine under direct lightning. (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Hongcai; Zhang, Yang; Du, Yaping; Cheng, Qingsha S.
• Is Part Of: International journal of electrical power & energy systems. Volume 121(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: Wind turbine -- Lightning protection -- Transient analysis -- Control system -- Cables -- PEEC; Electrical engineering -- Periodicals; Electric power systems -- Periodicals; Électrotechnique -- Périodiques; Réseaux électriques (Énergie) -- Périodiques; Electric power systems; Electrical engineering; Periodicals; 621.3
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijepes.2020.106131
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0142-0615

Abstract

Highlights: The detailed lightning transient distribution in various cables of the practical wind turbine is presented. A comprehensive modeling method considering full electromagnetic effects for wind turbines. A novel meshing strategy to calculate the eddy current effect among tower and cables. The influences of various electromagnetic effects on the transient distribution in wind turbine are discussed in detail. Abstract: Wind turbines (WTs) are frequently struck by lightning. Electronic devices in the control system of a wind turbine are operating in low voltage levels. Consequently, they are vulnerable to lightning transients. To implement an efficient lightning protection design, numerical simulation is the most economical and efficient method to evaluate the system. However, modeling of such a system is a complex task due to various components and complex configurations. Existing methods are well developed to estimate transients on the scale of the wind farm. However, they are insufficient to evaluate the detailed transient distribution in various cables in the low-voltage side of WT systems. This paper presents a comprehensive modeling procedure to calculate the transients in the control system of the wind turbine. A vector fitting enhanced partial element equivalent circuit method (PEEC) is adopted for the simulation. The influence of various electromagnetic effects on the transient distribution is discussed. A WT with a practical configuration of 14 cables is investigated thoroughly. The influences of various electromagnetic effects on the transient distribution are discussed.