AE - 416 Renewable Energy

ASSIGNMENT 1
Topics covered: Wind Energy, Wind Mapping, types of windmills and generators
Definition: Wind energy is a form of energy derived from solar energy. It is used to describe
how wind is used to generate electricity. Wind Turbines convert the kinetic energy in the
wind into mechanical power which can be used to produce electricity using a generator. A
generator coupled to a wind turbine is known as aero generator.
Wind Speed: Very slow winds are of no use as power generation is not possible. While the
very strong stormy winds cannot be used due to the safety issues with the turbines.
Moderate to high speed winds, typically ranging from 5m/s to 25m/s are considered
favourable for most wind turbines. The global potential in winds for large scale grid
connected power generation has been estimated as 9000 TWh/year (1T = 1013). It is also
estimated that favourable winds for small scale applications such as wind pumps, battery
chargers, heaters, etc are available on about 50% of earth’s surface which means that small
scale wind turbines can be practical in many parts of the world.
Reason: It is associated with the movement of large masses of air. These movements result
from uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun, creating temperature, density and
pressure differences. It is estimated that 1 per cent of solar radiation of all solar radiation
falling on face of the earth is converted into kinetic energy of the atmosphere, 30 percent of
which occurs in the lowest 1000 m of elevation. It is indirect form of solar energy.

Fig.1 Wind Turbine Diagram

Origin of Winds: The origin of winds may be traced back to basically uneven heating of the
earth’s surface due to the sun. This may lead to circulation of widespread winds on a global
basis, producing planetary winds or may have a limited influence in a smaller area to cause
local winds.

Thus the types of winds are:

1. Global (or Planetary winds): Two major force determine the direction and speed of
the wind on a global level:
i. The primary one being the differential heating of the earth at equatorial and
polar regions. In the tropical regions, there is a net gain of heat due to solar
radiation, whereas in the polar region there is net loss of heat. This means that
the earth’s atmosphere has to circulate to transfer heat from tropics towards
the poles. On a global scale, these atmospheric currents work as an immense
energy transfer medium. Ocean current act similarly, and are responsible for
about 30% of this global heat transfer.
ii. Spinning of the earth about its axis produces a coriolis force, which is
responsible for deviation of air currents towards the west.

Fig. 2 Global circulation of wind

2. Local winds: Localised uneven heating is responsible for local winds. Local winds are
produced due to two mechanisms:
i. The first is due to differential heating of land surface and water bodies due to
solar radiation. During the day, solar energy is readily converted to sensible
thermal energy on the land surface and this quickly increases its
temperature. Whereas on water bodies it is partly consumed in evaporating
water and partly consumed in order to increase the temperature. The
landmass thus becomes hotter than water, which causes differential heating
of air above them. During the day the cool, heavier air moves from water
 towards the landmass and during the night since the temperature of land
starts to decrease, the cooler air above the land starts to move towards the
water, thus resulting in winds in opposite direction. This mechanism is called
shore breeze.

ii. The second reason is the differential heating of slopes on the hillsides and
that on low lands. The slope heats up during the day and gets cooler faster as
compared to the low lands, this causes the heated air to rise along the slope
during the day and relatively cool air to flow down at night.

iii. Other types of winds include:

a. Trade winds: Extremely steady winds blowing from sub-tropical high

pressure regions towards equatorial low pressure region.
b. The Westerlies: These winds blow from sub-tropical high pressure region
towards sub-polar low pressure belts.

WIND MAPPING PROCESS

Definition: A wind map is a helpful tool for finding an appropriate mounting location for a
wind turbine.
Requirement: Finding an efficient location is a very crucial element for achieving premium
output from a wind turbine. Wind maps can be a very useful guide for selecting optimal
locations.
Process:
1. Measurement of wind speed: Wind speed is measured using an anemometer or
can be done using a flat plate and measuring the wind pressure. As per WMO
guidelines wind speed measurements should be made at an effective height of
10m above ground level and the frequency of measurement depends on the
purpose for which data is to be used.
Conclusions:
a. Wind speed increases with height.
b. Wind speed fluctuates with time
c. The turbulence is spread over a broad range of frequencies.
2. Measurement of wind direction: Wind direction can be measured using a wind
vane attached to a direction indicator.
3. The energy department commissions consultants to look into satellite wind data
and go on field study to check on various indicators such as bent trees to
reconfirm if it is a windy area.

Windmills:
Windmills convert the kinetic energy of wind to electricity. The main parts of windmills are its
blades, also called vanes. These blades are connected to a shaft, which is straddled on a tower.
Blades rotate due to wind and thereby turning the shaft.

Types of windmills:
1. Vertical axis windmills
2. Horizontal axis windmills
Horizontal axis Windmills: A horizontal axis machine has its blades rotating on an axis
parallel to the ground.

 This is the most common wind turbine design.

 In addition to being parallel to the ground, the axis of blade rotation is parallel to the
wind flow.
 Some machines are designed to operate in an upwind mode, with the blades upwind of
the tower.
 In this case, a tail vane is usually used to keep the blades facing into the wind. ¾ Other
designs operate in a downwind mode so that the wind passes the tower before striking
the blades.
 Some very large wind turbines use a motor-driven mechanism that turns the machine
in response to a wind direction sensor mounted on the tower.
 Commonly found horizontal axis wind mills are aero-turbine mill with 35% efficiency
and farm mills with 15% efficiency.
There are different kinds of horizontal axis windmills:

 Post Mill: It was the most old horizontal axis windmill. The unique feature is that it is mounted on a
single vertical post, on which it can be turned. It was named post mill as the most significant part is
the post on which the mill is turned. In earlier times the post was concealed on a base which was
replaced by a wooden support called trestle. Trestle, being wooden requires protection and thus
surrounded by a round house. The 19th century saw the decline in Post mills when they were
replaced by other powerful windmills such as tower and smock mills. Post mills have different
categories:

 Sunk Post Mill

 Open Trestle Post Mill
 Post Mill with roundhouse
 Hollow Post Mill
 Composite Mill
 Paltrok mill
 Smock Mill: Smock mills are those horizontal boarded towers which generally have six
to eight sides. The name got originated from the shape of its body as it looks like a
smock. This part of the mill is thatched and will be round shaped. The main feature of
the smock mill is that, the top part of it is flexible. Thus, this part can be moved
around according to the direction of wind, while the other part remains stable. The
 main body part being stable, it can be much bigger and taller. As we know, the taller
the tower, the more wind it could harvest. The productivity will be always high. 
Tower Mills: Tower mill is very similar to that of the smock mill. The only difference is
that the body of the tower mill is made of bricks or stones, making it very strong and
resistant. In smock mill, only the cap will be flexible. The durability of tower mills
always ranks high along with the efficiency. The body can be built in any height since
it is made with the stones or bricks.
 Fan Mills: Fan mills are small windmill designs for single use purpose. It has four to
twenty blades and mainly used for pumping water. American Windmill: This windmill
was unvented by Daniel Halladay in 1854.It was later patented by Halladay, this
windmill dint not require attention by the operator. Initially the windmill was built
from wood and required lot of maintenance. As time went the wood was replaced by
metal and found lot of reliability .Also there was improvement with self-oiling
gearboxes and pivoting wind wheels used by windmill. This were more efficient and
maintenance free.
Vertical Axis or Horizontal Windmills:
 Although vertical axis wind turbines have existed for centuries, they are not as
common as their horizontal counterparts.
 The main reason for this is that they do not take advantage of the higher wind
speeds at higher elevations above the ground as well as horizontal axis turbines.
 The basic vertical axis designs are the Darrieus, which has curved blades and
efficiency of 35%, the Giromill, which has straight blades, and efficiency of 35%, and
the Savonius, which uses scoops to catch the wind and the efficiency of 30%.
 A vertical axis machine need not be oriented with respect to wind direction.
 Because the shaft is vertical, the transmission and generator can be mounted at
ground level allowing easier servicing and a lighter weight, lower cost tower.
 Although vertical axis wind turbines have these advantages, their designs are not as
efficient at collecting energy from the wind as are the horizontal machine designs.
 There is one more type of wind-mill called Cyclo-gyro windmill with very high
efficiency of about 60%. However, it is not very stable and is very sensitive to wind
direction. It is also very complex to build.

TYPES OF GENERATORS
Any types of three-phase generator can connect to with a wind turbine. Several different
types of generators which are used in wind turbines are as follows: Asynchronous
(induction) generator and synchronous generator. Squirrel cage induction generator (SCIG)
and wound rotor induction generator (WRIG) are comes under asynchronous generators.
Wound rotor generator (WRSG) and permanent magnet generator (PMSG) are comes under
synchronous generator.
Asynchronous Generator
 1. Squirrel Cage Induction Generator: The fixed speed concept is used in this type of
wind turbine. In this configuration the Squirrel Cage Induction Motor is directly
connected to the wind through a transformer. A capacitor bank is here for reactive
power compensation and soft starter is used for smooth grid connection. It does not
support any speed control is the main disadvantage.
2. Wound rotor induction generator ( WRIG ): The variable speed concept is used in
this type .In this type of turbine Wound Rotor Induction Generator is directly
connected to the grid. The variable rotor resistance is for controlling slip and power
output of the generator. The soft starter used here for reduce inrush current and
reactive power compensator is used to eliminate the reactive power demand .The
speed range is limited , poor control of active and reactive power, the slip power is
dissipated in the variable resistance as losses are the disadvantages of this
configuration.
Synchronous Generator
1. Wound Rotor Generator: Turbine with wound rotor connected to the grid.This
configuration neither require soft starter nor a reactive power comparator is its main
advantage. The partial scale frequency converter used in the system will perform reactive
power compensation as well as smooth grid connection. The wide range of dynamic speed
control is depends on the size of frequency converter .the main disadvantage is that in the
case of grid fault it require additional protection and use slip rings, this makes electrical
connection to the rotor.
2. Doubly Fed Induction Generator: In order to satisfy the modern grid codes, the
grid turbine system have the capability of reactive power support. Doubly fed
induction generator based wind turbine system have more advantages than
others. DFIG wind turbine deliver power through the stator and rotor of the
generator the reactive power can provide in two sides. Hence use the term doubly.
Reactive power can be supported either through grid side converter or through
rotor side converter. The stator part of the turbine is directly connected to the grid
and the rotor is interfaced through a crowbar and a power converter. The voltage
to the stator part is applied from the grid and the voltage to the rotor is induced
by the power converter. The power is delivered from the rotor through the power
converter to the grid if the generator is operates above synchronous speed. If the
generator is operates below synchronous speed, then the power is delivered from the grid
through the power converter to the rotor The power converter controls both the active
and reactive power flow, the DC voltage of link capacitor between the grid and DFIG wind
turbine by feeding the pulse width modules (PWM) to the converters .A crowbar is
implemented between the generator and converter to prevent short circuit in the wind
energy system. Which may result in high current and high voltage. The RSC converter
controls the flux of the DFIG wind turbine .which operates at the slip frequency that
depends on the rotor speed of the generator. According to the maximum active and
reactive power control capability of converter, the power rating of the RSC is determined.
 SUBMITTED BY: MANKARAN SINGH SAGGU
2K16/EL/041

REFERENCES USED:
1. https://nptel.ac.in/content/storage2/courses/108108078/pdf/chap6/teach_slides06.pdf
2. “Comparative study of different types of generators used in wind turbine and reactive power
compensation” by Bindhu Babu1, Divya S IOSR Journal of Electrical and Electronics
Engineering (IOSR-JEEE).
3. Non-Conventional energy resources second edition by B.H. KHAN.
4. https://www.turbinegenerator.org/wind/what-is-wind/wind-map/