Low-Voltage Ride-Through Strategies in Wind Energy Conversion Systems

Wind energy conversion systems (WECS) have become integral to modern power grids, yet their continued operation during voltage disturbances presents a critical challenge. Low-Voltage Ride-Through (LVRT) capability ensures that wind farms remain connected and contribute to system stability when grid voltage falls below nominal levels. Strategies for LVRT encompass a spectrum of hardware and control-based approaches, tailored to different generator topologies such as doubly fed induction generators (DFIG) and permanent magnet synchronous generators (PMSG). Hardware solutions include crowbar protection circuits, fault current limiters and energy storage devices that shield power electronics while providing reactive support. Control-oriented methods leverage rotor-side and grid-side converter coordination to regulate active and reactive currents, optimise converter limits and mitigate transient overcurrents. Emerging techniques integrate advanced energy storage components, such as superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES), and algorithmic schemes—neural networks, sliding-mode control and adaptive fuzzy logic—to anticipate faults and adjust converter responses in real time. Compliance with evolving grid codes worldwide has driven innovations in reactive current injection during unbalanced faults, ensuring support for voltage recovery. Together, these developments enhance ride-through performance, reduce disconnection events, and enable higher wind penetration levels, thus reinforcing the resilience and reliability of renewable-rich power systems globally.

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Low-Voltage Ride-Through Strategies in Wind Energy Conversion Systems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in low-voltage ride-through strategies in wind energy conversion systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Low-Voltage Ride-Through (LVRT): Capability of a wind energy conversion system to remain connected and support the grid during temporary voltage dips without tripping.

Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS): Integrated assembly comprising wind turbine, generator and power electronics that converts kinetic wind energy into electrical power.

Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG): Type of generator with separate control of rotor and stator currents via back-to-back converters, enabling variable-speed operation and reactive power support.

Grid-Side Converter (GSC): Power electronic interface that regulates exchange of active and reactive currents between the DC link and the grid, critical for voltage-support functions.

Rotor-Side Converter (RSC): Converter that controls rotor currents of a DFIG, enabling torque regulation, speed control and contribution to LVRT.

Crowbar Protection Circuit: Hardware device that temporarily short-circuits the generator rotor to protect converters from overcurrent during severe voltage sags.

Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES): High-speed energy storage unit using superconducting coils to inject or absorb power rapidly, enhancing transient stability in WECS.

References

1. Analysis of low voltage ride-through capability and optimal control strategy of doubly-fed wind farms under symmetrical fault. Protection and Control of Modern Power Systems (2023).
2. Neural network predictive control for fault detection and identification in DFIG with SMES for low voltage ride-through requirements. Ain Shams Engineering Journal (2024).
3. Comprehensive Overview of Low Voltage Ride Through Methods of Grid Integrated Wind Generator. IEEE Access (2019).
4. Coordinated Control of DFIG Converters to Comply with Reactive Current Requirements in Emerging Grid Codes. Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy (2021).