WIND ENERGY

• Wind is a form of Solar energy

• Wind is caused by the uneven heating of the earth’s

surface and rotation of the Earth

• Wind Turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind to

mechanical power

• A generator can convert the mechanical power into

electricity
• About 2% of the total solar flux that reaches the earth’s
surface is transformed into wind energy due to uneven
heating of the atmosphere
• The first windmill used to produce electric energy was
created in 1888 by Charles F. Brush.

• The wind power programme in India was started during

1983-84 with the efforts of the Ministry of Non-
Conventional Energy Sources.
Components of Wind Turbine
Terms used in wind energy

• Airfoil (aerofoil):
• A streamlined curved surface designed for air to flow around it
in order to produce low drag and high lift forces
• Angle of attack:
• It is the angle between the relative air flow and the chord of
the airfoil
• Blade:
• An important part of a wind turbine that extracts wind energy

• Leading edge:
• It is the front edge of the blade that faces towards the
direction of the wind flow

• Trailing edge:
• It is the rear edge of the blade that faces away from the
direction of wind flow
• Chord line:
• It is the line joining the leading edge and the trailing edge
• Camber
• It is the max. distance between the mean line and chord line,
which measures the curvature of the airfoil
• Rotor
• It is the prime part of the wind turbine that extracts energy from
the wind
• Hub
• Blades are fixed to a hub which is a central solid part of the
turbine
• Pitch angle
• It is the angle between the blade chord and the plane of the blade
• Nacelle
• Contains the key components of the wind turbine including the
gearbox, yaw system and electric generator
 Classifications of wind turbine
• Horizontal axis
• Co -axial, multi axial, multi -rotor horizontal axis
turbines
• Counter-rotating horizontal axis turbines
• Vertical axis
• Darrieus wind turbine
• Giromill wind turbine or cycloturbines
• Saronium wind turbine
• Terra Moya Aqua wind turbine
• Location
• Onshore
• Off shore
• Deep water
• Types of rotors
• HORIZONTAL AXIS WIND TURBINE (HAWT)
• Multiblade type

• Propeller type

• Sail Type

• VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINE (VAWT)

• Savonious type

• Darrieus type
• Multiblade type
• Has more number of blades usually 12-20.

• Blades made of sheet metal or aluminum.

• The width of plate increases from center to periphery.

• The diameter of rotor ranges from 2-5m.

• Low cost and used normally for pumping water.

• Speed about 60 to 80 rpm.

• Sail type

• Blade surface is made of cloth or plastics arranged in

mast and poles or sail wings.

• Runs at low speed about 60-80 rpm.

• Propeller type
• Turbine blades are shaped a lot like airplane wings -- they use
an airfoil design. In an airfoil, one surface of the blade is
somewhat rounded, while the other is relatively flat.
• Run at 300-400 rpm

• Diameter of the rotor ranges from 2m to 25m

• Savanious type
• The savanious turbine is s-shaped if viewed
from above.
• It is relatively slow but yields high torque.
• It consists of hollow circular cylinder sliced in
half, the two halves fixed to vertical axis.
• The turbine rotates due to pressure
difference between cupped face and round
face.
• Darrieus type
• Darrieus type looks like an egg beater and
has two to three blades shaped like an
aero foil
• The fixed pitch blades are curved an
attached to hubs on vertical shaft at both
ends.
• The curved blade has shape like the rope
during skipping.
• It requires less surface area.
Wind energy Conversion System
• Rotor /Blade/Aero-turbine:
• Blade extracts significant power from the wind. They convert
the force (K.E.) of the wind into the rotary motion to generate
useful mechanical power.
• Hub:
• Hub of the wind turbine is that component which connects the
blades to the main shaft and ultimately to the rest of drive
train. Hubs are generally made up of steel.
• Main Shaft (Low speed shaft):
• It is provided for transfer of torque from the rotor blade to the
rest of the drive train. It also supports weight of rotor. Speed
of the shaft is low, is about 30 to 60 rotations per minute.
• High speed shaft:
• It is connected to generator via-gearbox. Speed of the wind
turbine is low; gearing arrangement increases the speed of
rotation to the level as per design. e.g. 1500 rpm for 50 Hz
frequency and 1800rpm for 60 Hz frequency necessary to
generate electricity with the help of generator. Gear box is
one of the heaviest and most expensive component in wind
turbine.

• Coupling:
• Coupling are used to connect shaft together
• Between main shaft and gear box
• Between gear box output and the generator.
• Brakes:
• The brakes are fitted to stop the wind turbine. By applying the
brakes when dangerously strong wind are approaching i.e.
when wind speed exceeds55-65 miles per hour, the wind
turbine is stopped to avoid damage. In case of emergency also
it is used to stop the rotation of turbine. To take down the
turbine for maintenance, brakes are applied to stop it.
• Yaw Controller:
• It brings the blades towards the face into the wind direction i.e.
it detects the direction of wind. It performs the task of orienting
the rotor in the direction of wind.
• Pitch Controller:
• The pitch controller adjust automatically the pitch of each
blade i.e. blade can be rotate to increases efficiency in low
wind and to decrease in very strong winds (to protect the wind
turbine)
• Electrical Generator:
• Function of generator is to convert mechanical energy
produced by wind turbine into electrical energy.
• Anemometer:
• It is a wind direction sensor with digital display. Used in areas
where AC power is not available. It monitors wind speed and
stores max and average value.
• Controller:
• Controller takes data from anemometer (which measures the
wind velocity): The controller sense wind direction & wind
speed The controller protect wind turbine from abnormal wind
conditions, excessive temperature rise of generator, electrical
fault etc.
• Nacelle:
• Nacelle cover provides weather protection for the principle
components of the wind turbine. It is structure that houses all
of the generating components like-gearbox, rotor shaft and
brake assembly etc.

• Tower:
• A tower is needed to elevate the blades to where the wind is
stronger and smoother. Towers are supports to raise the main
part of the turbine up in the air.
Mathematical Expression Governing Wind Power
• The wind power is generated due to the movement of wind.
• The energy associated with such movement is the kinetic
energy and is given by the following expression:

• m = Air mass in Kg = Volume (m3) x Density (Kg/m3) = Q x ρ

• Q = Discharge
• v = Velocity of air mass in m/s
• Hence, the expression for power can be derived as follows:
• The Choice of an generator and control method to be
employed can be decided by consideration of the
following three factors ;

• The basis of operation i.e., either constant tip speed or

constant tip speed ratio.

• The wind-power rating of the turbine,

• The type of load demand., e.g. Battery connection

• The electrical control strategy employed for any

particular SCHEME can be designed to effect control of
the generator, the power transmission link.
SCHEMES FOR ELECTRIC GENERATION
• Constant speed - Constant frequency systems (CSCF)

• Variable speed - Constant frequency systems (VSCF)

• Variable speed - Variable frequency systems (VSVF)

• Constant speed constant frequency system

(CSCF)
• It has been used for large generators connected directly to the
grid where constant frequency operation is essential.
• Synchronous Generator

• Induction Generator
• Synchronous Generator
• For such machines the requirement of constant speed is very rigid
and only minor fluctuations about 1% for short durations could be
allowed.
• Synchronization of wind driven generator with power grid also pose
problems with gusty winds.

• Induction Generator
• If the stator of an induction machine is connected to the power grid
and if the rotor is driven above synchronous speed Ns the machine
becomes a generator and delivers constant line frequency power to
the grid. (f=line frequency & p=No of poles for which the stator
winding is made). The per unit slip is 0 and 0.05, the output power of
wind driven induction generator is uniquely determined by the
operating speed.
Torque slip characteristics of induction machine
• Variable Speed Constant Frequency Scheme
• It is typical for most small wind generators used in
autonomous applications, generally producing variable
frequency and variable voltage output.

• The variable speed operation of wind electric system yield

higher outputs for both low and high wind speeds. This results
in higher annual energy yields per rated installed KW capacity.
• AC-DC-AC Link
• With the advent of high powered thyristors and high voltage
d.c transmission systems, a.c output of the 3 phases
alternator is rectified using a bridge rectifier and then
converted back to a.c using line commutated inverters. They
utilize an a.c source which periodically reverses polarity and
causes the commutation to occur naturally.
• Double Output induction generator
• In this system a slip ring induction motor is used. Rotor power
at slip frequency is converted to line frequency power by
rectification and inversion output power is obtained both from
stator and rotor and hence this device is called double output
induction generator.
• A.C. Commutation generator

• This system is also known as Scherbius system employs two

polyphase windings in the stator and a commutator winding
on the rotor. Basic problems in employing this device for wind
energy conversion are the cost and additional maintenance
and care required by the commutator and the brush gear.
• Variable speed - Variable frequency systems (VSVF)
Since resistive heating loads are essentially frequency insensitive,
the a.c generator can be effected at a variable frequency
corresponding to the changing derive speed. For this purpose
capacitor excited squirrelcaze induction machines can be
conveniently used.
Wind energy storage system

Wind energy conversion system with energy

storage
Wind-assisted gas turbine generating unit
System with compressed air storage
System with direct feed to main power line
System with battery storage
System with flywheel storage (alternative for
converting and storing)
System with hydrogen storage (alternative for
converting and storing)
Wind-diesel hybrid system
• Remote coastal areas where wind
speed is sufficient to operate a
wind turbine but there is no state
grid supply.

• Wind generators are installed to

electrify the area.

• Wind energy being intermittent a

backup of diesel generators is
required to maintain 24hrs power
supply.

• Wind-diesel hybrid system is

installed to supply electric power to
emergency loads of hospitals,
communication services, defence
installations, commercial and
Wind-PV hybrid system
Solar wind system with storage battery supplying
to various consumers