Comparative Analysis of Predictive and Direct Power Control Strategies for PMSG-Based WECS

This paper presents robust direct power control based on a prediction approach for a PMSG-based wind energy conversion system. Despite many advantages that distinguish DPC from other techniques, the variable switching frequency and high ripples of the currents and power induced by the hysteresis comparator reduce DPC's performance and efficiency. The principle objective of this study is to address the aforementioned shortcomings of conventional direct power control (DPC), thus increasing the whole system's performance. Predictive power control (PPC) control is proposed in this study as an improvement of DPC. This technique uses a unique cost function to identify the appropriate voltage vector to be applied at each switching period, instead of the switching table and hysteresis used in the conventional DPC. Furthermore, to increase the performance of the studied controls, this study also includes the MPPT control strategy. Finally, to show each control’s performance and effect on the system, the proposed control is compared to conventional DPC through a simulation test carried out in the MATLAB\Simulink environment.