Offshore wind farm with centralised power conversion and DC interconnection

The study of a hypothetical large offshore wind farm based on centralised power conversion and interconnected to the grid using a multiterminal parallel high voltage direct current (HVDC) link is presented. The 300 MW wind farm consists of 60 squirrel-cage based 5 MW generators connected to a common DC bus using ten voltage source converters (VSCs). The transmission system converters provide variable speed generator control, and therefore individual converters are not required for each wind generator, implying savings in wind farm costs. The paper studies the technical and economical benefits of the proposed topology, as well as the selection of the main components. A detailed analysis of the control circuits for both generator and grid facing converters, with respect to primary control functions, is also given. PSCAD/EMTDC simulation of the proposed concept is presented for realistic wind signals. The results confirm operation at an average optimum coefficient of performance at each respective generator group, as well as satisfactory stability even for severe wind speed changes. The proposed concept reduces the costs associated with DC interconnection and may simplify integration of large offshore wind farms at substantial distances.