Design of PID and sliding mode controllers for the blade pitch angle control in wind turbines

In this study, the control of wind turbine blade pitch angle using PID and Sliding Mode Control (SMC) methods is comparatively analyzed. Blade pitch control plays a crucial role in ensuring the safe, efficient, and stable operation of wind turbines. In this context, the performance of two different control approaches has been evaluated. The hypothesis of the thesis suggests that, compared to the conventional PID control structure, the sliding mode control may offers superior stability and transient response performance, especially under varying wind speed conditions and external disturbances. For this purpose, both controllers were simulated on a dynamic wind turbine model developed in the MATLAB environment. In the model, parameters such as generator speed, wind speed, and output power were considered to dynamically adjust the pitch angle. Simulation results demonstrated that SMC provides a faster and more stable response than PID control, particularly against wind speed variations; it also reduces mechanical stress and fluctuations in energy production. On the other hand, the PID controller offers advantages in terms of simplicity and practical implementation. The findings offer a scientific framework for determining which control strategy is more effective under specific operating conditions in wind turbine systems.