SWIPLab - Smart Wind Farm Laboratory
The research infrastructure will be used to create a small-scale laboratory wind farm with a variable Network connection, which complements the research competencies in the field of Wind energy. The laboratory enables cross-system examination, testing and Optimization of individual system components as well as control and management concepts Wind turbines and the entire wind farm. The focus is on the cross-couplings components in the mechatronic drive train and the interactions between the systems with each other in variable network structures.
General equipment:
- 1.800 m² laboratory space
- 2,6 MVA Mains connection power
- 10 t Crane system
- Electrical workshop
- control center
There are 15 electrically coupled test benches for wind energy converters with a nominal output of 20 kW each, which can be electrically connected by a modular network simulation and which can be connected by a network emulator to a network of any properties.
Different system topologies have been implemented in the 15 replicated systems, including five machine test benches with permanent magnet synchronous generators (PMSM) and five others machine test stands with double-fed induction generator (DFIG) and five flexible test stands with active front end (AFE). Characteristics of the mechanical drive train and the complete generator system are implemented in a performance-scaled manner on the test benches.
The systems are controlled centrally via the control center, where wind farm management and a three-dimensional wind flow model are calculated in real time using powerful computing systems. With a total of 32 real-time computers, the Wind rotor models and system controls are implemented.
To connect to the grid, various wind farm layouts, grid topologies and characteristics can be interconnected and freely configured using modular Pi elements to simulate underground cables and overhead lines. Furthermore, the SWiPLab has a 1 MVA power converter system as a network emulator, which simulates processes in the interconnected network in real time with a voltage specification up to the 25th harmonic, taking the voltage and frequency dynamics into account.
Location
Smart Wind Farm Laboratory
Prinz-Regent-Straße 74 c
44795 Bochum