Unit -2 WIND ENERGY
Introduction
Wind energy is the energy from moving air, caused by temperature differences in the
atmosphere. Wind energy is the kinetic energy of air in motion
Wind energy is used for pumping as well as electric power generation.
The cost of power generation from wind farms has now become lower than diesel power
and comprable to thermal power in several areas of our country especially near the coasts.
Wind energy produces no greenhouse gases. Wind energy has become one of the most
economical renewable energy technology
Based on the rotating axis of the turbines blace they are classified into vertical axis
horizontal axis.
Principles of wind energy conversion
Wind energy conservation principles focus on efficiently converting the kinetic energy of wind
into usable electrical energy using wind turbines.
The Key principles include
Understanding wind behavior (or) Nature of the Wind
Utilizing lift and drag forces on turbine blades (or) Power in the Wind
Maximizing energy capture through proper design
Placement of turbines.
Efficient storage of generated electricity
1. The Nature of Wind
The circulation of air in the atmosphere is caused by the non-uniform heating of the earth’s
surface by the sun. The air immediately above a warm area expands, it is forced upward by
cool, denser air which flows in from surrounding areas causing wind.
The nature of the terrain, the degree of cloud and the angle of the sun in the sky are all
factors which influences nature of wind
In general, during the day the air above the land tends to heat up more rapidly than the air
over water. In coastal regions this turns itself in a strong onshore wind. At night the process
is reversed because the air cools down more rapidly over the land and the breeze therefore
blows off shore.
Despite the wind’s intermittent nature, wind patterns at any particular site remain
remarkably constant year by year. Average wind speeds are greater in hilly and coastal
areas than they are well inland. The winds also tend to blow more consistently.
Page 1 of 7
2. The Power in Wind
Wind possesses energy by virtue of its motion. Any device capable of slowing down the mass of
moving air, like a sail or propeller, can extract part of the energy and convert is into useful work.
There are three factors determine the output power generated from the wind mill, they are
(1) The wind speed
(2) The cross section of wind swept by rotor, and
(3) The overall conversion efficiency of rotor, transmission system and generator or pump.
The power in the wind can be computed by using of Kinematics. The wind mill works on the
principle of converting Kinetic energy of the wind to mechanical energy.
Wind Energy Conversion Systems (WECS)
Wind energy conversion involves using wind turbines to transform the kinetic energy of wind into
mechanical energy, which is then converted into electrical energy by a generator. This process
utilizes the force of the wind to rota
rotate
te the turbine blades, which are connected to a generator that
produces electricity.
Page 2 of 7
Traditional windmills were used extensively in the middle ages to mill grain and lift water for land
drainage and watering cattle.
Wind energy converters are still used for these purposes today in some parts of the world, but the
main focus of attention now lies with their use to generate electricity.
Modern wind energy conversion systems are more correctly referred to as ‘WECS’,
‘aerogenerators’, ‘wind turbine generators’, or simply ‘wind turbines’.
Site Selection Consideration For WEC (Wind Energy Conversion)
Some of the main site selection consideration are given below:
1. High annual average wind speed: The speed generated by the wind mill depends on cubic
values of velocity of wind, the small increases in velocity markedly affect the power in the wind.
2. Availability of anemometry data: The anemometry data should be available over some time
period at the precise spot where any proposed WECS is to be built
3. Availability of wind V(t) Curve at the proposed site: determines the maximum energy in
the wind and hence is the principal initially controlling factor in predicting the electrical output
4. Nature of wind at the proposed site: The ideal case for the WECS would be a site such that
the V(t) Curve was flat, i.e., a smooth steady wind that blows all the time; but a typical site is
always less than ideal
5. Altitude of the proposed site: It affects the air density and thus the power in the wind and
hence the useful WECS electric power output.
Page 3 of 7
6. Terrain and its aerodynamic of the site: One should know about terrain of the site to be
chosen. If the WECS is to be placed near the top but not on the top of a not too blunt hill facing the
prevailing wind, then it may be possible to obtain a ‘speed-up’ of the wind velocity over what it
would otherwise be.
7. Local Ecology
8. Distance to road or railways: This is another factor the system engineer must consider for
heavy machinery, structure, materials, blades and other apparatus will have to be moved into any
choosen WECS site.
9. Nearness of site to local centre and users: This obvious criterion minimizes transmission
line length and hence losses and cost.
10. Nature of ground: Ground condition should be such that the foundation for a WECS are
secured. Ground surface should be stable. Erosion problem should not be there,
11. Favorable land cost: Land cost should be favourable as this along with other siting costs,
enters into the total WECS system cost.
Basic Components of WECS
A wind energy conversion system (WECS) typically consists of a wind turbine, a generator, a power
converter, and a control system. These components work together to capture wind energy and convert it
into usable electrical energy. The wind turbine captures the wind's kinetic energy, the generator converts
this mechanical energy into electrical energy, the power converter regulates and controls the electrical
output, and the control system manages the overall operation of the system. The electrical energy produced
depends on wind speed and size of the blades.
Various major components of a wind mill or wind turbine are
1. Rotor blades – Rotor blades convert the wind energy into mechanical or rotational energy. It is
usually made of fibre glass. The turbine blades material is chosen such that they posses light
weight.
2. Rotor Hub – It is the central portion of the rotor wheel. All the blades are attached to the hub. Pitch
angle control mechanism is also provided inside the hub.
3. Gear box – The low speed of the rotor blades shaft is transformed into high speed shaft of the
generator.
4. Generator – This converts the mechanical energy of the shaft into electrical energy. Large WTGs
used with grid connected system use induction generators. Medium capacity WTGs use
Synchronous generators and small capacity WTGs use DC Generators.
5. Yaw mechanism (Wind orientation control) – As the direction of the wind changes frequently, the
yaw control continuously track and keep the rotor axis in the wind direction. It ensures the rotor
blades are parallel to wind orientation.
6. Nacelle – It houses all the components of the turbine ie, the Generator, gearbox, brakes, hydraulic
systems and yaw mechanism.
Page 4 of 7
7. Access ladder – It helps in, climbing the tower in case of any trouble or for maintenance.
8. Anemometer – It measures the wind speed.
9. Wind vane: Wind vane monitors the wind direction. lt sends a signal to the controlling computer
which activates the yaw mechanism to make the rotor face the wind direction.
10. Brake – Used to stop the rotor while servicing the wind mill. Hydraulic disc brakes are fitted to the
high speed shaft of the gear box.
Classifications of Wind Energy Systems
Based on the Rotational Axis they are classified as:
1. A horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) is the most commonly used type. The rotor blades
are mounted on a horizontal shaft perpendicular to the ground.
2. A vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) has its rotor blades mounted on a vertical shaft parallel
to the ground. VAWT is less common than HAWT because it is more expensive and
complicated to build and is not as efficient in converting wind energy into electricity.
Based on the size of the WES they are classified as:
1. Small size machines (upto 2k W)
2. Medium size machines (2 to 100k W)
3. Large size machines (100k W and above)
4. Single generator at single site
5. Multiple generators
Page 5 of 7
Types of output
1. DC output :- i. DC generator ii. Alternator rectifier
2. AC output
i. Variable frequency, variable or constant voltage AC.
ii. Constant frequency, variable or constant voltage AC
Wind turbines are also classified as per how the utilization of output is made:
1. Battery storage.
2. Direct connection to an electromagnetic energy converter.
3. Other forms like thermal, potential forms of storage.
Difference between HAWT and VAWT
Both horizontal axis and vertical axis wind turbines use the kinetic energy of wind to drive an electric generator,
however there are several differences between them that are highlighted in the following table
Basis of Difference Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine Vertical Axis Wind Turbine
Definition A horizontal axis wind turbine is the A wind turbine is called a vertical axis
one whose axis of rotation is wind turbine if its axis of rotation is
horizontal. vertical.
Abbreviated name HAWT is the abbreviation used for VAWT is the abbreviation used to denote
horizontal axis wind turbine. the vertical axis wind turbine.
Axis of rotation with For the horizontal axis wind turbine, For the vertical axis wind turbine, the axis
respect to wind the axis of rotation of turbine is of rotation of the turbine is perpendicular to
stream parallel to the wind stream. the wind stream.
Location of electric In the horizontal axis wind turbine, the In the vertical axis wind turbine, the
generator electric generator is installed at the top generator is installed on the ground.
of the tower.
Location of gearbox In HAWT, the gearbox is installed at In VAWT, the gearbox is installed at the
the top of the turbine tower. bottom of the turbine.
Need of yaw In the horizontal axis wind turbine, the The vertical axis wind turbine does not
mechanism yaw mechanism is required to orient require yaw mechanism because it receives
the turbine in the direction of wind. wind from all directions.
Self-starting Horizontal axis wind turbine is self- Vertical axis wind turbine is not self-
starting. starting, hence a starting mechanism is
required to start it from stationary position.
Design and The design and installation of a The design and installation of a vertical
installation horizontal axis wind turbine is axis wind turbine is comparatively simple.
complex.
Operation space of Horizontal axis wind turbine requires Vertical axis wind turbine requires small
blades large space for blade's operation. space for blade's operation.
Dependency on wind The operation of horizontal axis wind The operation of vertical axis wind turbine
direction turbine is dependent on wind direction. is independent of the wind direction
because it receives wind from all
directions.
Height from ground The height of the horizontal axis wind The vertical axis wind turbine is installed at
turbine from ground is large. comparatively smaller distance from the
ground.
Power coefficient Horizontal axis wind turbine has a Vertical axis wind turbine has a low power
Page 6 of 7
high power coefficient. coefficient.
Noise produced The operation of horizontal axis wind Vertical axis wind turbines produce
turbine is noisy. comparatively less noise.
Efficiency The ideal efficiency of horizontal axis The ideal efficiency of vertical axis wind
wind turbine is around 50% to 60 %. turbine is usually more than 70%.
Hindrance for birds Horizontal axis wind turbines cause Verticall axis wind turbines cause less
high obstruction for birds. hindrance for birds.
Cost Horizontal axis wind turbines are more Vertical axis wind turbines are less
expensive due their complex design expensive because their design and
and installation. installation is quite simple.
Application of Wind Energy:
1. The wind energy is used to propel the sailboats in river and seas to transport men and
materials from one place to another.
2. Wind energy is used to run pumps to draw water from the grounds through wind mills.
3. Wind energy has also been used to run flourmills to grind the grains like wheat and corn
into flour.
4. Now-a-days
days wind energy is being used to generate electricity.
Page 7 of 7
