WIND

POWER
GENERATOR
COMPONENTS OF WIND ENERGY
CONVERSION SYSTEM
 COMPONENTS OF WIND ENERGY
CONVERSION SYSTEM
➢ Wind energy is a powerful and renewable resource that has been harnessed by
humanity for centuries.
➢ From ancient windmills grinding grain to modern wind turbines generating
electricity, the technology used to convert wind energy into useful power has
evolved significantly.
➢ ROTOR: The rotor is a fundamental component of a wind turbine. It consists of the
blades that capture the kinetic energy from the wind.
➢ Materials such as fiberglass, carbon fiber, or other lightweight, durable materials are
commonly used for blade construction.
➢ Additionally, some advanced wind turbines feature variable-pitch blades, allowing
for adjustments based on wind speed.
➢ LOW SPEED SHAFT: The low-speed shaft is responsible for connecting the rotor to the gearbox.
➢ It facilitates the transfer of mechanical energy generated by the spinning rotor to the gearbox, where it
is transformed into higher-speed rotational energy.
➢ GEARBOX: The gearbox is a critical component that amplifies the rotational speed from the low-speed
shaft to a level suitable for power generation.
➢ This essential device optimizes the energy conversion process and enhances the efficiency of the wind
turbine.
➢ GENERATOR: Located in the nacelle, the generator plays a pivotal role in the wind energy conversion
system. It converts the rotational energy from the high-speed shaft into electrical energy.
➢ CONTROLLER: The controller system is the brain of the wind turbine. It continuously monitors and
manages the turbine’s performance.
➢ HIGH-SPEED SHAFT: The high-speed shaft is responsible for connecting the gearbox to the
generator. It efficiently transfers mechanical energy from the gearbox to the generator, allowing for the
conversion of rotational energy into electrical power, what are the basic components of wind energy
conversion system.
➢ BRAKE SYSTEM: The brake system is a critical safety feature of wind turbines. It activates in extreme
wind conditions or during maintenance, preventing the turbine from spinning and potentially suffering
damage

➢ YAW DRIVE: The yaw drive is a mechanism that ensures the rotor always faces into the wind. By
adjusting the orientation of the turbine, it maximizes energy capture.

➢ TIP SPOILER: Tip spoilers are devices sometimes employed to control the airflow over the blades.
These spoilers are strategically positioned at the tips of the blades to enhance the turbine’s efficiency.

➢ PITCH CONTROL: Pitch control systems are responsible for adjusting the angle of the blades. This
adjustment helps maintain optimal power output and prevents damage to the turbine during high winds.
 TYPES OF WIND GENERATORS
There are two basic types of wind turbines:
➢ Horizontal-axis turbines
➢ Vertical-axis turbines
HORIZONTAL AXIS TURBINE
 HORIZONTAL AXIS TURBINE
➢ A HAWT has a similar design to a windmill, it has blades that look like a propeller that spin on the
horizontal axis as shown in figure.

➢ Horizontal axis wind turbines have the main rotor shaft and electrical generator at the top of a tower, and
they must be pointed into the wind. Small turbine are pointed by a simple wind vane placed square with
the rotor (blades), while large turbines generally use a wind sensor coupled with a servo motor to turn
the turbine into the wind.

➢ Most large wind turbines have a gearbox, which turns the slow rotation of the rotor into a faster rotation
that is more suitable to drive an electrical generator.

➢ Since a tower produces turbulence behind it, the turbine is usually pointed upwind of the tower. Wind
turbine blades are made stiff to prevent the blades from being pushed into the tower by high winds.
➢ Important points to remember regarding HAWT:
1. Lift is the main force
2. Much lower cyclic stress
3. 95% of the existing turbines are HAWTs
4. Nacelle is placed at the top of the tower
5. Yaw mechanism is required

➢ ADVANTAGES:
1. The tall tower base allows access to stronger wind in sites with wind shear.
2. High efficiency, since the blades always move perpendicular to the wind, receiving power through the
whole rotation.
➢ DISADVANTAGES:
1. Massive tower construction is required to support the heavy blades, gearbox, and generator.
2. HAWTs require an additional yaw control mechanism to turn the blades toward the wind
VERTICAL AXIS TURBINE
 VERTICAL AXIS TURBINE

➢ A vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) is a type of wind turbine where the main rotor shaft is set
transverse to the wind while the main components are located at the base of the turbine.

➢ This arrangement allows the generator and gearbox to be located close to the ground, facilitating service
and repair. VAWTs do not need to be pointed into the wind, which removes the need for wind-sensing
and orientation mechanisms.

➢ A vertical axis wind turbine has its axis perpendicular to the wind streamlines and vertical to the ground.
➢ TYPES OF VAWT:

1. Savonius: The Savonius wind turbine (SWT) is a drag-type VAWT. The common design includes a rotating shaft with two or three scoops
that catch the incoming wind.

2. Darrieus: The Darrieus wind turbine is a lift-type VAWT. The original design included a number of curved aero foil blades with the tips
attached on a rotating shaft.

3. Revolving Wing: Revolving wing wind turbines or rotating wing wind turbines are a new category of lift-type VAWTs which use 1
vertically standing, non-helical airfoil to generate 360-degree rotation around a vertical shaft that runs through the center of the airfoil.

➢ ADVANTAGES:

1. Omni-directional VAWTs may not need to track the wind. This means they don't require a complex mechanism and motors.

2. Gearbox replacement and maintenance are simpler and more efficient.

➢ DISADVANTAGES:

1. VAWTs often suffer from dynamic stall of the blades as the angle of attack varies rapidly.
 ADVANTAGES OF WECS
➢ It is one of the lowest-cost renewable energy technologies that exist today.

➢ It is available as a domestic source of energy in many countries worldwide and not restricted to only a
few countries, as in the case of oil.

➢ It is energized by naturally flowing wind; thus, it is a clean source of energy. It does not pollute the air
and cause acid rain or greenhouse gases.

➢ It can also be built on farms or ranches and hence can provide the economy in rural areas using only a
small fraction of the land.

➢ Generating electricity from wind energy reduces the need for us to burn fossil fuels.

➢ Unlike non-renewable energy sources, the wind is readily available and free for everyone to use.
 DISADVANTAGES OF WECS
➢ The main challenge to using wind as a source of power is that the wind is intermittent and it does not always blow when
electricity is needed.

➢ It cannot be stored; not all winds can be harnessed to meet the timing of electricity demands. At the present time, the use of
energy storage in battery banks is not economical for large wind turbines.

➢ Despite the fact that the cost of wind power has come down substantially in the past 10 years, the technology requires a
higher initial investment than the solutions using fossil fuels.

➢ It may have to compete with other uses for the land, and those alternative uses may be more highly valued than electricity
generation.

➢ It is often that good sites are located in remote locations, far from cities where electricity is needed. Thus, the cost of
connecting remote wind farms to the supply grid may be prohibitive.

➢ There may be some concerns over the noise generated by the rotor blades and aesthetic problems that can be minimized
through technological developments or by correctly siting wind plants.
 SOLAR
POWER
GENERATOR
 PRINCIPLE OF SOLAR CELL
 A solar cell (also known as a photovoltaic cell or PV cell) is defined as an electrical device that
converts light energy into electrical energy through the photovoltaic effect.
 A solar cell is basically a p-n junction diode.
 Solar cells are a form of photoelectric cell, defined as a device whose electrical characteristics – such
as current, voltage, or resistance – vary when exposed to light.
 WORKING OF SOLAR CELL

 When sunlight strikes a solar cell, electrons in the silicon are ejected, which results in the
formation of “holes”—the vacancies left behind by the escaping electrons.
 If this happens in the electric field, the field will move electrons to the n-type layer and holes to
the p-type layer.
 If you connect the n-type and p-type layers with a metallic wire, the electrons will travel from
the n-type layer to the p-type layer by crossing the depletion zone and then go through the
external wire back of the n-type layer, creating a flow of electricity.
BASIC SOLAR PV SYSTEM FOR
POWER GENERATION
 COMPONENTS OF SOLAR ENERGY
GENERATION SYSTEM
 SOLAR PANEL:
A solar panel consists of many solar cells with semiconductor properties encapsulated within a
material to protect it from the environment. These properties enable the cell to capture light, or more
specifically, the photons from the sun and convert their energy into useful electricity through a process
called the photovoltaic effect.

 INVERTER:
The electricity produced from a solar panel (or array) is in the form of direct current (DC).
Although many electronic devices use DC electricity, including your phone or laptop, they are designed to
operate using the electrical utility grid which provides (and requires) alternating current (AC).
Therefore, in order for the solar electricity to be useful it must first be converted from DC to AC
using an Inverter. This AC electricity from the inverter can then be used to power electronics locally, or
be sent on to the electrical grid for use elsewhere.
 CIRCUIT BREAKERS:
Breakers protect electrical systems from over current or surges. Designed to trigger
automatically when the current reaches a predetermined amount, breakers can also be operated
manually, acting as an additional disconnect.

 ELECTRIC METER:
An Electric meter measures the amount of energy that passes through it and is commonly
used by electric utility companies to measure and charge customers. For solar PV systems, a special bi-
directional electric meter is used to measure both the incoming energy from the utility, and the outgoing
energy from the solar PV system.

 WIRING:
The Wiring or electrical cables transport the electrical energy from and between each
component and must be properly sized to carry the current. Wiring exposed to sunlight must have
protection against UV exposure, and wires carrying DC current sometimes require metal sheathing for
added protection.
ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES
OF SOLAR ENERGY
 ADVANTAGES:
 Solar power is pollution-free and causes no greenhouse gases to be emitted after installation
 Reduced dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels
 Renewable clean power that is available every day of the year, even cloudy days produce
some power
 Return on investment unlike paying for utility bills
 Virtually no maintenance as solar panels last over 30 years
 Creates jobs by employing solar panel manufacturers, solar installers, etc. and in turn helps
the economy
 Excess power can be sold back to the power company if the grid inner tied
 Ability to live grid free if all power generated provides enough for the home/building
 Can be installed virtually anywhere; in a field to on a building
 Use batteries to store extra power for use at night
 Solar can be used to heat water, power homes and buildings, even power cars
 Safer than traditional electric current
 Efficiency is always improving so the same size solar that is available today will
become more efficient tomorrow
 Aesthetics are improving making the solar more versatile compared to older models;
i.e. printing, flexible, solar shingles, etc.
 Federal grants, tax incentives, and rebate programs are available to help with initial
costs
 No trenching is needed since the solar can be close to or at the place of installation
 DISADVANTAGES
 High initial costs for material and installation and long ROI (however, with the reduction in the
cost of solar over the last 10 years, solar is becoming more cost feasible every day)
 Needs lots of space as efficiency is not 100% yet
 No solar power at night so there is a need for a large battery bank
 Devices that run on DC power directly are more expensive
 Depending on geographical location the size of the solar panels vary for the same power
generation
 Cloudy days do not produce as much energy
 Solar panels are not being massed produced due to a lack of material and technology to lower
the cost enough to be more affordable (this is starting to change)
 Solar-powered cars do not have the same speeds and power as typical gas-powered cars (this
too is starting to change)
 Lower solar production in the winter months