Application of different MPPT algorithms for PMSG-based grid-connected wind energy conversion system

Renewable energy sources such as wind energy sources have become the most prominent area of research work over the last two decades. Extraction of maximum power and lowering of THD are still the main issues during the integration of wind energy sources to the grid due to the noncontrollable variability of wind energy sources and the application of power electronic devices as interfacing devices. The main objective of this paper is to utilize modern optimization techniques for extracting maximum power points and implementing a Multilevel inverter to obtain minimal THD. This paper has introduced Improved Grey Wolf Optimization with Levy Flight for tracking maximum power from WECS. This Levy flight concept is applied in combination with the improved hunting process of GWO for providing an efficacy solution and a high rate of convergence through global tracking. Distinct MPPT algorithms such as Perturb and Observe (P & O), Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO), and Levy Flight Grey Wolf optimization (LGWO) are presented, simulated, and analyzed using MATLAB/SIMULINK. These algorithms have been compared based on quantitative analysis to examine the stability, figure out performance, and verify the best algorithm among the proposed algorithms. The consequences of the comparison demonstrated the supercilious characteristic of LGWO in the matter of tracking GMPP, rate of convergence, and the time to catch GMPP. The multilevel inverter is utilized as an interfacing unit between wind energy sources and the grid. This power electronic-based multilevel inverter is the main source of harmonic generation. This harmonic has been reduced to 5.5% (THD) due to the application of a 23-level Cascaded H-bridge multilevel Inverter using MATLAB/SIMULINK software.