B.
Tech Sem 5
Renewable Energy Resources
Unit IV
Wind Energy & Biomass
By
VinyA Bhay (⌐■_■)
Introduction to Wind Energy
Wind power or wind energy describes the process by which the wind is used to generate mechanical power or
electricity. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical power.
This aerial view of a wind turbine plant shows how a group of wind turbines can make electricity for the utility grid.
The electricity is sent through transmission and distribution lines to homes, businesses, schools, and so on.
Wind as a source of energy is plentiful, inexhaustible and pollution free but it has the disadvantage that the degree
and period of its availability are uncertain. Also, movement of large volumes of air is required, to produce even a
moderate amount of power. As a result, the wind power must be used as and when it is available, in contrast to
conventional methods where energy can be drawn upon when required. Wind power, therefore, is regarded as a
means of saving fuel, by injection of power into an electrical grid, or run wind power plant in conjunction with a
pumped storage plant. The power that can be theoretically obtained from the wind, is proportional to the cube of its
velocity and thus high wind velocities are most important. The power developed using this law, in atmospheric
condition where the density of air is 1.2014 kg/cu meter, is given as Power developed = 13.14 × 10–6 A V 3 KW
where A is the swept area in sq. meter and V the wind velocity in Km/hr.
Types of Windmills
Vertical axis windmills
Horizontal axis windmills
Vertical Axis Windmills
In the early development stage, vertical axis wind mills were very popular and were in wide use. It is in such a design
that the blades will be perpendicular to the ground. These vertical axis wind mills were replaced by the horizontal
axis windmills later due to its incompetence. This was mainly used for grinding grains or pumping water.
The vertical axis windmill is called as horizontal windmills. Thus please do not confuse yourself with both the names
as if you miss the word “axis”, the whole idea and meaning will change, giving you the antonym.
Advantages:
Does not have to be pointed towards the wind to be effective. This creates a flexible location for placement
of the turbine in an area with varying wind direction.
Capable of operating during minimal wind speed. Long curved propellers are designed to be pushed by a
small amount of wind.
Does not have to installed at a very high place via a tower. City ordinance regulations do not take effect and
lowers cost due to materials needed for construction. Aesthetically more pleasing.
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Easily visible to wildlife. While spinning or at rest, a vertical axis turbine appears as a solid object.
The generator does not have to be installed on the top of a tower. Important for maintenance
considerations.
Disadvantages:
The lower the place, the slower the wind. This reduces the turbines efficiency which makes it less cost
effective
Horizontal Axis Windmills
Horizontal axis windmills won the hearts of many due to its efficiency and productivity. It is known for its elasticity
design as it harness more wind and easy for the operating person to change the direction according to the wind flow.
This horizontal axis windmills are called as vertical windmills. There are different kinds of horizontal axis windmills,
namely,
1. Post Mill 2. Smock Mill 3.Tower Mill 4. Fan mill
Advantages:
The towers are relatively tal which allows the blades to face much higher velocity winds in high altitude. In
some places, the power output of the wind turbine could increase up to 30% every ten meters in altitude
because the wind speed is increased by 20%
High efficiency, the blades always move perpendicular to the wind, receiving power through the whole
rotation unlike vertical axis wind turbines.
Disadvantages:
High construction and installation costs. Large Machinery is needed.
Wind turbines are unappealing to an otherwise beautiful and visually pleasing landscape
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Wind power availability
The term “availability” as used in the wind industry, is a measure of the potential for a wind turbine or wind farm to
generate electrical power. If the turbine is “available” and grid-connected, and the wind and other conditions are
within the turbine specification, then power will be generated.
The availability factor of a wind turbine is the amount of time that the turbine is able to produce electricity over a
certain period, divided by the amount of the time in the period. The availability factor should not be confused with
the capacity factor. The capacity factor for a given period can never exceed the availability factor for the same
period. The difference arises when the turbine runs at less than full capacity, in which case the capacity factor is less
than the availability factor.
Wind Power Development in India
The wind power development in the country started in early 1990s and in 1994 100% Accelerated Depreciation
benefit was introduced for wind turbines. Ministry issued guidelines for healthy and orderly growth of wind power in
the country. State also issued conducive policies for generation of power from wind energy. At the end of 9th Five
Year Plan (FYP) the cumulative wind power installed capacity was only 1.7 GW, during 10th FYP 5.4 GW capacity was
added and during 11th FYP 10.3 GW capacity was added. More than 15 GW wind capacity added during 12th FYP.
The present wind power installed capacity in the country is around 32.5 GW which is approximately 55% of the total
renewable installed power generation capacity. Now, in terms of wind power installed capacity India is globally
placed at 4th position after China, USA and Germany.
Government of India has set an ambitious target of reaching 175 GW of renewable power capacity in the country by
2022 of which 60 GW to come from wind. The country has further set a goal of having 40% of its installed electric
capacity powered by non-fossil-fuel sources by 2030 and would reduce its “emissions intensity” by 33% to 35%
below 2005 levels by 2030. Wind energy being clean energy has to play a major role in achieving these goals to meet
the challenges of climate change.
In spite of the sharp increase in wind power capacity in the country, only a fraction of the country’s wind potential
has been tapped till date. As per recent assessment of National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) the potential for
onshore wind at 100 meter above ground level is over 302 GW.
Wind Power Plant Megawatt (MW) Location
Muppandal wind farm 1500 Tamil Nadu, Kanyakumari
Jaisalmer Wind Park 1064 Rajasthan, Jaisalmer
Brahmanvel Wind Farm 528 Maharashtra, Dhule
Dhalgaon wind farm 278 Maharashtra, Sangli
Vankusawade Wind Park 259 Maharashtra, Satara
Vaspet 144 Maharashtra, Vaspet
Tuljapur 126 Maharashtra, Osmanabad
Beluguppa Wind Park 100.8 Beluguppa, Andhra Pradesh
Mamatkheda Wind Park 100.5 Madhya Pradesh,
Mamatkheda
Anantapur Wind Park 100 Andhra Pradesh, Nimbagallu
Introduction to Biomass Resources
Biomass is organic, meaning it is made of material that comes from living organisms, such as plants and animals. The
most common biomass materials used for energy are plants, wood, and waste. These are called biomass feedstock.
Biomass energy can also be a non-renewable energy source.
Biomass contains energy first derived from the sun: Plants absorb the sun’s energy through photosynthesis, and
convert carbon dioxide and water into nutrients (carbohydrates).
The energy from these organisms can be transformed into usable energy through direct and indirect means. Biomass
can be burned to create heat (direct), converted into electricity (direct), or processed into biofuel (indirect).
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Bio Mass Conversion Process
Biomass is converted to energy through various processes, including:
Direct combustion (burning) to produce heat
Thermochemical conversion to produce solid, gaseous, and liquid fuels
Chemical conversion to produce liquid fuels
Biological conversion to produce liquid and gaseous fuels
Direct combustion is the most common method for converting biomass to useful energy. All biomass can be burned
directly for heating buildings and water, for industrial process heat, and for generating electricity in steam turbines.
Thermochemical conversion of biomass includes pyrolysis and gasification. Both are thermal decomposition
processes in which biomass feedstock materials are heated in closed, pressurized vessels called gassifiers at high
temperatures. They mainly differ in the process temperatures and amount of oxygen present during the conversion
process.
Pyrolysis entails heating organic materials to 800–900oF (400–500 oC) in the near complete absence of free
oxygen. Biomass pyrolysis produces fuels such as charcoal, bio-oil, renewable diesel, methane, and
hydrogen.
Hydrotreating is used to process bio-oil (produced by fast pyrolysis) with hydrogen under elevated
temperatures and pressures in the presence of a catalyst to produce renewable diesel, renewable gasoline,
and renewable jet fuel.
Gasification entails heating organic materials to 1,400–1700oF (800–900oC) with injections of controlled
amounts of free oxygen and/or steam into the vessel to produce a carbon monoxide and hydrogen rich gas
called synthesis gas or syngas. Syngas can be used as a fuel for diesel engines, for heating, and for generating
electricity in gas turbines. It can also be treated to separate the hydrogen from the gas, and the hydrogen
can be burned or used in fuel cells.
Chemical conversion process known as transesterification is used for converting vegetable oils, animal
fats, and greases into fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), which are used to produce biodiesel.
Biological conversion includes fermentation to convert biomass into ethanol and anaerobic digestion to
produce renewable natural gas. Ethanol is used as a vehicle fuel. Renewable natural gas—also
called biogas or bio methane—is produced in anaerobic digesters at sewage treatment plants and at dairy
and livestock operations. It also forms in and may be captured from solid waste landfills. Properly treated
renewable natural gas has the same uses as fossil fuel natural gas.
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