Prachi Raghunathan
Independent Researcher
India
Abstract
This manuscript presents a comparative study of synchronous generators (SGs) and induction generators (IGs) employed in wind power systems as of 2016. The study examines design characteristics, operational behavior under variable wind speeds, control strategies, efficiency, reliability, and grid interaction. Two case studies—one utilizing a fixed‐speed squirrel‐cage induction generator and the other employing a variable‐speed synchronous generator with full‐scale power converter—are analyzed. Methodology includes simulation modeling in MATLAB/Simulink, performance evaluation under IEC wind profiles, and harmonic and stability analysis. Results indicate that SGs with full‐scale converters offer superior grid support, fault‐ride‐through capability, and efficiency at low wind speeds, while IGs demonstrate simplicity and lower capital cost. Conclusions highlight trade‐offs between complexity, cost, and performance, offering guidelines for generator selection in wind farms designed to the state‐of‐the‐art of 2016.
Keywords Synchronous generator, Induction generator, Wind power, Variable speed, Grid integration, Efficiency
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