Grid_Friendly Connecting of Constant-Speed Wind Turbines Using External Resistors

Journal article, 2002

In this paper an alternative method of connecting fixed-speed wind turbines, with active pitch mechanisms or variable-slip generators, is proposed and evaluated. instead of using the conventional soft starter, external resistors are used. The method was evaluated via laboratory tests, on a 15 kW machine, as well as theoretically on a 1 MW wind turbine. the proposed method causes small grid power quality impact, especially on inductive grids, compared with soft starters. this allows constant-speed wind turbines to be connected to weaker grids.