WIND TURBINE POWER ELECTRONICS WITH HYBRID INTEGRATED CIRCUITS

RECENT PROGRESS IN HYBRID POWER INTEGRATED CIRCUIT (IC) DEVELOPMENT CAN BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF IN THE DESIGN OF NEW, INNOVATIVE POWER ELECTRONIC VARIABLE-SPEED SYSTEMS FOR WIND TURBINES. THE CONTINUED ADVANCEMENT OF THESE POWER ICS INTO LARGER RATING AND LOWER PRICES IS ASSURED BECAUSE OF THE VAST MARKET IN THE ADJUSTABLE AC DRIVE BUSINESS. THE PLANNED SYSTEM EMPLOYS THESE DEVICES IN A DIRECT-DRIVE (I.E., NO GEARBOX) POWER ELECTRONICS PACKAGE THAT SOLVES THE CURRENT PROBLEMS WITH VARIABLE-SPEED SYSTEMS: HIGH COMPLEXITY AND COST OF THE POWER DEVICES AND LARGE POWER LOSSES ASSOCIATES WITH VARIATION OF ROTOR SPEED OVER TOO HIGH A RANGE. A UNIQUE POWER ELECTRONICS/GENERATOR SCHEME IS PLANNED IN PHASE I TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE POWER REQUIREMENTS AND COMPLEXITY OF THE POWER ELECTRONICS, RESULTING IN REDUCTION IN CAPITAL COST.