Genetic algorithm optimized robust nonlinear observer for a wind turbine system based on permanent magnet synchronous generator

This paper presents an optimal control scheme for a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator (PMSG) coupled to a wind turbine operating without a position sensor. This sensorless scheme includes two observers: The first observer uses the flux to estimate the speed. However, an increase in the temperature or a degradation of the permanent magnet characteristics will result in a demagnetization of the machine causing a drop in the flux. The second observer is therefore used to estimate these changes in the flux from the speed and guaranties the stability of the system. This structure leads to a better exchange of information between the two observers, eliminates the problem of encoder and compensates for the demagnetization problem. To improve the precision of the speed estimator, the gain of the non-linear observer is optimized using Genetic Algorithm (GA) and the speed is obtained from a modified Phase Locked Loop (PLL) method using an optimized Sliding Mode Controller (SMC). Furthermore, to enhance the convergence speed of this observer scheme and improve the performance of the system a Fast Super Twisting Sliding Mode Control (FSTSMC) is introduced to reinforce the SMC strategy. A series of simulations are presented to show the effectiveness and robustness of proposed observer scheme. •Design of a sensorless control for a Wind Energy Conversion System based on Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator (PMSG).•The demagnetization problem and improving the estimation accuracy is resolved by a dual observer configuration.•Genetic Algorithm (GA) optimization is applied to determine the gain of the observer.•The estimated speed is obtained from a modified Phase Locked Loop circuit using optimized Sliding Mode Control based on GA.•A modified design of Fast Super Twisting-SMC (FST-SMC) is introduced to enhance the convergence speed of the observer.