A Review on Fault Current Limiting Devices to Enhance the Fault Ride-Through Capability of the Doubly-Fed Induction Generator Based Wind Turbine

The doubly-fed induction generator has significant features compared to the fixed speed wind turbine, which has popularised its application in power systems. Due to partial rated back-to-back converters in the doubly-fed induction generator, fault ride-through capability improvement is one of the important subjects in relation to new grid code requirements. To enhance the fault ride-through capability of the doubly-fed induction generator, many studies have been carried out. Fault current limiting devices are one of the techniques utilised to limit the current level and protect the switches, of the back-to-back converter, from over-current damage. In this paper, a review is carried out based on the fault current limiting characteristic of fault current limiting devices, utilised in the doubly-fed induction generator. Accordingly, fault current limiters and series dynamic braking resistors are mainly considered. Operation of all configurations, including their advantages and disadvantages, is explained. Impedance type and the location of the fault current limiting devices are two important factors, which significantly affect the behaviour of the doubly-fed induction generator in the fault condition. These two factors are studied by way of simulation, basically, and their effects on the key parameters of the doubly-fed induction generator are investigated. Finally, future works, in respect to the application of the fault current limiter for the improvement of the fault ride-through of the doubly-fed induction generator, have also been discussed in the conclusion section.