Modeling and Simulation of Micro-Grid System Coupled With Small Wind Turbine

Wind energy has been examined as a clean and economic resource, however, the intermittent and fluctuate feature of which makes it necessary to couple with an energy storage system for compensating the wind energy curtailments. A micro-grid with a compressed air energy storage (CAES) system may help to eliminate the problem resulted from high wind power penetration in the power grid. What is more, it can reduce the network losses. A micro-grid system coupled with small wind turbine presented in this paper. Off-peak power from the wind turbine is used to drive the compressor which serves for the storage vessel. The compressed air supercharges the gas turbine directly when wind energy is not sufficient to guarantee the required load. A dynamic model is built to test the behavior of the system. A statistical model based on stochastic weather data is used to simulate the output of the wind turbine for one day at quarter-hour intervals. An accurate model of CAES includes a compressor, a high pressure vessel and a gas turbine is built in details. A control system is developed to achieve outstanding system’s characteristics like great control performance, stable operation and fast starting. The simulation results show that the CAES can compensate the wind turbine and make the most of wind energy.