A Hybrid Wind-Solar Energy System: A New Rectifier Stage

Topology

K. Hari Kishore. V.Chaitanya Prasad, (M-tech).

08MP1A0229 Assoc.Prof. EEE Dept.

Abstract—Environmentally friendly solutions INTRODUCTION

are becoming more prominent than ever as a
With increasing concern of global warming
result of concern regarding the state of our
and the depletion of fossil fuel reserves, many are
deteriorating planet. This paper presents a new
looking at sustainable energy solutions to preserve
system configuration of the front-end rectifier
the earth for the future generations. Other than
stage for a hybrid wind/photovoltaic energy
hydro power, wind and photovoltaic energy holds
system. This configuration allows the two
the most potential to meet our energy demands.
sources to supply the load separately or
Alone, wind energy is capable of supplying large
simultaneously depending on the availability of
amounts of power but its presence is highly
the energy sources. The inherent nature of this
unpredictable as it can be here one moment and
Cuk-SEPIC fused converter, additional input
gone in another. Similarly, solar energy is present
filters are not necessary to filter out high
throughout the day but the solar irradiation levels
frequency harmonics. Harmonic content is
vary due to sun intensity and unpredictable
detrimental for the generator lifespan, heating
shadows cast by clouds, birds, trees, etc. The
issues, and efficiency. The fused multi input
common inherent drawback of wind and
rectifier stage also allows Maximum Power Point
photovoltaic systems are their intermittent natures
Tracking (MPPT) to be used to extract
that make them unreliable. However, by
maximum power from the wind and sun when it
combining these two intermittent sources and by
is available. An adaptive MPPT algorithm will be
incorporating maximum power point tracking
used for the wind system and a standard perturb
(MPPT) algorithms, the system‟s power transfer
and observe method will be used for the PV
efficiency and reliability can be improved
system. Operational analysis of the proposed
significantly.
system will be discussed in this paper. Simulation
When a source is unavailable or insufficient
results are given to highlight the merits of the
in meeting the load demands, the other energy
proposed circuit. When a source is insufficient in
source can compensate for the difference. Several
meeting the load demands, the other energy
hybrid wind/PV power systems with MPPT
source can compensate for the difference.
control have been proposed and discussed in
Several hybrid wind/PV power systems with
works Most of the systems in literature use a
MPPT control have been proposed, usage of
separate DC/DC boost converter connected in
rectifiers and inverters is also discussed.
parallel in the rectifier stage as shown in Figure 1
to perform the MPPT control for each of the
renewable energy power sources. A simpler multi- PROPOSED MULTI-INPUT RECTIFIER
input structure has been suggested that combine STAGE
the sources from the DC-end while still achieving
A system diagram of the proposed rectifier
MPPT for each renewable source. The structure
stage of a hybrid energy system is shown in
proposed by is a fusion of the buck and buck-
Figure 2, where one of the inputs is connected to
boost converter. The systems in literature require
the output of the PV array and the other input
passive input filters to remove the high frequency
connected to the output of a generator. The fusion
current harmonics injected into wind turbine
of the two converters is achieved by reconfiguring
generators. The harmonic content in the generator
the two existing diodes from each converter and
current decreases its lifespan and increases the
the shared utilization of the Cuk output inductor
power loss due to heating.
by the SEPIC converter. This configuration allows
In this paper, an alternative multi-input
each converter to operate normally individually in
rectifier structure is proposed for hybrid
the event that one source is unavailable. Figure 3
wind/solar energy systems. The proposed design
illustrates the case when only the wind source is
is a fusion of the Cuk and SEPIC converters.
available. In this case, D1 turns off and D2 turns
The features of the proposed topology are:
on; the proposed circuit becomes a SEPIC
1) The inherent nature of these two converters converter and the input to output voltage
eliminates the need for separate input filters for relationship is given by (1). On the other hand, if
PFC [7]-[8], only the PV source is available, then D2 turns off
2) It can support step up/down operations for each and D1 will always be on and the circuit becomes
renewable source (can support wide ranges of a Cuk converter. The input to output voltage
PV and wind input), relationship is given by (2). In both cases, both
3) MPPT can be realized for each source, converters have step-up/down capability, which
4) Individual and simultaneous operation provide more design flexibility in the system if
duty ratio control is utilized to perform MPPT
control.

Vdc d2
=
Vw 1 − d2

Vdc d1
=
Vpv 1 − d1

Figure 3 illustrates the various switching

Figure 1: Hybrid System with multi-connected
states of the proposed converter. If the turn on
boost converter
duration of M1 is longer than M2, then the
switching states will be state I, II, IV. Similarly, 𝑉𝑝𝑣
iL1 = IiPV + 𝑡 0 < t < d1Ts
𝐿1
the switching states will be state I, III, IV if the
𝑉𝑐1+𝑉𝑐2
switch conduction periods are vice versa. To iL2 = Idc + 𝑡 0 < t < d1Ts
𝐿2
provide a better explanation, the inductor current
𝑉𝑤
waveforms of each switching state are given as iL3 = Iiw + 𝑡 0 < t < d1Ts
𝐿3

follows assuming that d2 > d1; hence only states I,

STATE III (M1 OFF, M2 ON):
III, IV are discussed in this example. In the
following, Ii,PV is the average input current from
the PV source; Ii,W is the RMS input current after
the rectifier (wind case); and Idc is the average
system output current.
The key waveforms that illustrate the
switching states in this example are shown in Figure 4: M1 off, M2 on
Figure 5. The mathematical expression that relates
𝑉𝑝𝑣 −𝑉𝑐1
the total output voltage and the two input sources iL1 = IiPV + 𝑡 d1Ts < t < d2Ts
𝐿1
will be illustrated in the next section.
𝑉𝑐2
iL2 = Idc + 𝑡 d1Ts < t < d2Ts
𝐿2

𝑉𝑤
iL3 = Iiw + 𝑡 d1Ts < t < d2Ts
𝐿3

STATE IV (M1 OFF, M2 OFF):

Figure 2: Circuit diagram of Darlington

configuration
There are different states in the working of the
proposed circuit of rectifier stage for a Hybrid
Wind/PV System and these states are as follows: Figure 5: M1 off, M2 off

STATE I (M1 ON, M2 ON): 𝑉𝑝𝑣 −𝑉𝑐1

iL1 = IiPV + 𝑡 d2Ts < t < Ts
𝐿1

𝑉𝑑𝑐
iL2 = Idc - 𝑡 d2Ts < t < Ts
𝐿2

𝑉𝑤 −𝑉𝑐2−𝑉𝑑𝑐
iL3 = Iiw + 𝑡 d2Ts < t < Ts
𝐿3

Figure 3: M1 on, M2 on
 ANALYSIS OF PROPOSED CIRCUIT equivalent inductance of Cuk and SEPIC
converter respectively.
To find an expression for the output DC bus
The PV output current, which is also equal
voltage, Vdc, the volt-balance of the output
to the average input current of the Cuk converter
inductor, L2, is examined d2 > d1. Since the net
is given in (12). It can be observed that the
change in the voltage of L2 is zero, applying volt-
average inductor current is a function of its
balance to L2 results in (3). The expression that
respective duty cycle (d1). Therefore by adjusting
relates the average output DC voltage (Vdc) to the
the respective duty cycles for each energy source,
capacitor voltages (vc1 and vc2) is then obtained
maximum power point tracking can be achieved.
as shown in (4), where vc1 and vc2 can then be
obtained by applying volt-balance to L1 and L3
[9]. The final expression that relates the average
output voltage and the two input sources (VW and
VPV) is then given by (5). It is observed that Vdc
is simply the sum of the two output voltages of the
Cuk and SEPIC converter. This further implies
that Vdc can be controlled by d1 and d2
individually or simultaneously.

MPPT CONTROL OF PROPOSED CIRCUIT

A common inherent drawback of wind and

The switches voltage and current
PV systems is the intermittent nature of their
characteristics are also provided in this section.
energy sources. Wind energy is capable of
The voltage stress is given by (6) and (7)
supplying large amounts of power but its presence
respectively. As for the current stress, it is
is highly unpredictable as it can be here one
observed from that the peak current always occurs
moment and gone in another. Solar energy is
at the end of the on-time of the MOSFET. Both
present throughout the day, but the solar
the Cuk and SEPIC MOSFET current consists of
irradiation levels vary due to sun intensity and
both the input current and the capacitors (C1 or
unpredictable shadows cast by clouds, birds, trees,
C2) current. The peak current stress of M1 and M2
etc. These drawbacks tend to make these
are given by (8) and (10) respectively. Leq1 and
renewable systems inefficient. However, by
Leq2, given by (9) and (11), represent the
incorporating maximum power point tracking
(MPPT) algorithms, the systems‟ power transfer Figure 6 and 7 are illustrations of a power
efficiency can be improved significantly. To coefficient curve and power curve for a typical
describe a wind turbine‟s power characteristic, fixed pitch (β =0) horizontal axis wind turbine. It
equation (13) describes the mechanical power that can be seen from figure 7 and 8 that the power
is generated by the wind. curves for each wind speed has a shape similar to
that of the power coefficient curve. Because the
Pm = 0.5𝜌ACp(λ, β)v3 w
TSR is a ratio between the turbine rotational speed
The power coefficient (Cp) is a nonlinear and the wind speed, it follows that each wind
function that represents the efficiency of the wind speed would have a different corresponding
turbine to convert wind energy into mechanical optimal rotational speed that gives the optimal
energy. It is dependent on two variables, the tip TSR.
speed ratio (TSR) and the pitch angle. The TSR,
λ, refers to a ratio of the turbine angular speed
over the wind speed.

Figure 7: Power Curves for a typical wind

turbine

For each turbine there is an optimal TSR

Figure 6: Power Coefficient Curve for a typical value that corresponds to a maximum value of the

wind turbine power coefficient (Cp,max) and therefore the

maximum power. Therefore by controlling
The pitch angle, β, refers to the angle in rotational speed, (by means of adjusting the
which the turbine blades are aligned with respect electrical loading of the turbine generator)
to its longitudinal axis. maximum power can be obtained for different
R ωb wind speeds. A solar cell is comprised of a P-N
= Vw
junction semiconductor that produces currents via
Where, the photovoltaic effect.

R = turbine radius,
ωb = angular rotational speed

Figure 8: PV cell equivalent circuit

 PV arrays are constructed by placing The typical output power characteristics of a
numerous solar cells connected in series and in PV array under various degrees of irradiation is
parallel. A PV cell is a diode of a large-area illustrated by Figure 11. It can be observed in
forward bias with a photo voltage and the Figure 11 that there is a particular optimal voltage
equivalent circuit is shown by Figure 9. The for each irradiation level that corresponds to
current-voltage characteristic of a solar cell is maximum output power.
derived in as follows:

Where,
Iph = photocurrent,

ID = diode current,
I0 = saturation current, Figure 9: Cell Current Vs Cell Voltage
A = ideality factor,
Therefore by adjusting the output current (or
q = electronic charge 1.6x10-9,
voltage) of the PV array, maximum power from
kB = Boltzmann‟s gas constant (1.38x10-23),
the array can be drawn. Due to the similarities of
T = cell temperature,
the shape of the wind and PV array power curves,
Rs = series resistance,
a similar maximum power point tracking scheme
Rsh = shunt resistance,
known as the hill climb search (HCS) strategy is
I = cell current,
often applied to these energy sources to extract
V = cell voltage
maximum power.
Typically, the shunt resistance (Rsh) is very
large and the series resistance (Rs) is very small.
Therefore, it is common to neglect these
resistances in order to simplify the solar cell
model. The resultant ideal voltage-current
characteristic of a photovoltaic cell is given by
(17) and illustrated by Figure 10

Figure 10: Output Power Vs Output Current

 The HCS strategy perturbs the operating SIMULATION RESULTS
point of the system and observes the output. If the
In this section, simulation results from
direction of the perturbation (e.g an increase or
MATLAB-5 are given to verify that the proposed
decrease in the output voltage of a PV array)
multi-input rectifier stage can support individual
results in a positive change in the output power,
as well as simultaneous operation. The
then the control algorithm will continue in the
specifications for the design example are given in
direction of the previous perturbation. Conversely,
TABLE 1. Figure 11.1 shows output AC and DC.
if a negative change in the output power is
Figure11.2 Shows Input DC and AC. Figure 11.3
observed, then the control algorithm will reverse
Shows final Cuk-SEPIC mode.
the direction of the pervious perturbation step. In
the case that the change in power is close to zero
(within a specified range) then the algorithm will
invoke no changes to the system operating point
since it corresponds to the maximum power point
(the peak of the power curves). Table 1: Design Specifications

The MPPT scheme employed in this paper

is a version of the HCS strategy. Figure 12 is the
flow chart that illustrates the implemented MPPT
scheme.

Figure 11.1: Final Output AC & DC

Figure 11: General MPPT Flow Chart for wind

and PV Figure 11.2: Input DC & AC
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