Direct drive high temperature superconducting (HTS) wind turbine generators have been proposed to tackle challenges for ever increasing wind turbine ratings. Due to smaller reactances in HTS generators, higher fault currents and larger transient torques could occur if sudden short circuits happen at generator terminals. In this paper, a finite element model that couples magnetic fields and the generator’s equivalent circuits is developed to simulate short circuit faults. Afterwards, the model is used to study the transient performance of a 10 MW HTS wind turbine generator under four different short circuits, i.e., three-phase, phase-phase clear of earth, phase-phase-earth, and phase-earth. The stator current, fault torque, and field current under each short circuit scenario are examined. Also included are the forces experienced by the HTS field winding under short circuits. The results show that the short circuits pose great challenges to the generator, and careful consideration should be given to protect the generator. The findings presented in this paper would be beneficial to the design, operation and protection of an HTS wind turbine generator.@en

Direct drive high temperature superconducting (HTS) wind turbine generators have been proposed to tackle challenges for ever increasing wind turbine ratings. Due to smaller reactances in HTS generators, higher fault currents and larger transient torques could occur if sudden short circuits happen at generator terminals. In this paper, a finite element model that couples magnetic fields and the generator’s equivalent circuits is developed to simulate short circuit faults. Afterwards, the model is used to study the transient performance of a 10 MW HTS wind turbine generator under four different short circuits, i.e., three-phase, phase-phase clear of earth, phase-phase-earth, and phase-earth. The stator current, fault torque, and field current under each short circuit scenario are examined. Also included are the forces experienced by the field winding under short circuits. The results show that the short circuits pose great challenges to the generator, and careful consideration should be given to protect the generator. The results presented in this paper would be beneficial to the design, operation and protection of an HTS wind turbine generator.@en

Understanding mechanisms of switching transient overvoltages in modern electrical power systems is a necessity to ensure a proper design of power plants and switchgear and the required level of reliable and secure system operation. High fidelity plant modelling and accurate transient analysis is a prerequisite for understanding the mechanisms of how overvoltages are created and whether or not the voltage withstand capabilities of system components will be exceeded. This research is focused on switching overvoltages typical for an offshore wind farm power collection grid configuration that comprises vacuum circuit breakers (VCBs), cables and transformers. An in-depth understanding of the prestrike effects in VCBs is a prerequisite for studying switching transient overvoltages. In this paper, the impact of VCB parameters (e.g., stray capacitance and withstand voltage ability)and cable length on the transformer terminal voltage during closing operation was studied. A wind farm power collection system was modelled in ATP-EMTP environment. To validate the results obtained through computer simulation, field measurements from an actual system were used.@en