Probabilistic Safety Assessment of Offshore Wind Turbines, Sub Project 8 - Reliability of Grid Connection

Within the scope of the sub project 8, a reliability study concerning electronic power conversion and grid connection in offshore wind turbines is carried out.
Different converter systems, electric structural concepts for offshore wind parks and their grid connection are simulated, evaluated and compared with each other concerning costs and probabilistically determined reliability parameters.
Research is done in close cooperation of IAL-Power Electronics and IEH (Institute of Electric Power Systems). IAL-Power Electronics deals with the inner structure and the functioning of power electronic converters, the effect of a stochastic power supply on each individual component (power semiconductors, capacitors, inductors, etc.) as well as with the creation of statistic models to be able to evaluate the system. At IEH, all relevant data for further electric components (switches, transformers, cables, etc.) as well as the reliability behaviour of the overall system are determined.