General Electric Company
Reactive Power Control Method for an Integrated Wind and Solar Power System

Abstract:

A method of operating a power generation system (100) employing a generator (110) and a solar power source (120) is provided. The method includes the steps of determining (310) if a wind speed is less than a cut-in speed, calculating (315) a reactive power demand for an electrical grid (102), calculating (320) a reactive power capability of a line side converter (140), determining (325) if the reactive power demand is greater than the reactive power capability, and calculating (330) a reactive power capability of the line side converter (140) and a rotor side converter (130). The method also includes the steps of determining (335) if the reactive power demand is greater than the reactive power capability of the line side converter (140) and the rotor side converter (130), and reducing solar power generation or reconfiguring the line side converter (140) and/or the rotor side converter (130) to meet reactive power demand.