Modelling of Soft-Starters for Wind Turbine Applications

Gurrently, the directly connected squirrelcage induction generator is the most widely used in wind turbine applications. They are normally equipped with a soft-starter in order to avoid inrush currents. A new method, which uses switching functions to simulate different connection types for soft-starter-fed induction generators, is presented in this paper. An ABC/abc model of the induction machine including the deep-bar effect is also shown. Based on the proposed method some simulation results during the grid connection of a large induction machine in wind turbine applications are finally shown and demonstrates the new tools. (au)