Journal Article
SN Applied Sciences, vol. 3, iss. 4, 2021
Authors
Hannah Aaronson, Brian Polagye, Brian Johnson, Robert J. Cavagnaro
Abstract
AbstractThis study presents an efficient system that smooths fluctuations in electrical power from a cross-flow (i.e., “vertical-axis”) turbine. The proposed solution is a two-stage approach consisting of a low-pass filter and a bi-directional buck-boost converter. The design and stability characteristics of the system are presented, followed by time-domain simulation and validation against small-scale experiments. When this validated simulation is applied to a full-scale system, we demonstrate a 99% root mean square reduction in fluctuating power output with only a 3% drop in electrical system efficiency. This could allow intracycle control strategies to increase mechanical power output without causing electrical power fluctuations that are incompatible with direct use.
