Backstepping nonlinear control to maximize energy capture in a variable speed wind turbine

We are considering the problem of maximum power point tracking MPPT in wind energy conversion system (WECS). The paper proposes a new control strategy to maximize the wind aerodynamic energy captured in variable speed wind turbine with a separately excited DC-Generator and transformed to the battery through a controlled DC-DC converter. The proposed strategy controls the stip speed ratio via the rotor angular speed to an optimum point at wich the power coefficient is maximal. The controller is designed using the backstepping technique. A formal analysis based on lyapunov stability is developed to describe the control system performances. In addition to closed-loop global asymptotic stability, it is proved that the controller actually meets the MPPT requirement. The above results are confirmed by simulations.