Wind energy is a promising renewable source, but optimizing power output while safeguarding turbine integrity necessitates advanced control systems.
This research investigates robust control techniques for regulating the pitch angle of wind turbines. A computer simulation environment (FAST-MATLAB/Simulink) is used to analyze these techniques on the NREL 1.5 MW HAWT.
It explores control methods for both operational regions, In low wind speeds (Region 2), and (Region 3) in high wind speeds. The generator torque control assisted the turbine in achieving its maximum power coefficient (Cp) at low wind speeds. Blade pitch control took over when wind speeds increased, ensuring that the generator torque remained steady at its rated value and that the rotor speed remained constant at 20 rpm. As a result, the power curve became smooth, gradually growing at low wind speeds and leveling off at the rated power at high wind speeds. The power curve produced by the simulation and the one derived from the FAST software's control model matched.