The global electrical energy consumption is rising and there is a steady increase of the demand on the power capacity, efficient production, distribution and utilization of energy. The traditional power systems are changing globally, a large number of dispersed generation (DG) units, including both renewable and nonrenewable energy sources such as wind turbines, photovoltaic (PV) generators, fuel cells, small hydro, wave generators, and gas/steam powered combined heat and power stations, are being integrated into power systems at the distribution level. Power electronics, the technology of efficiently processing electric power, play an essential part in the integration of the dispersed generation units for good efficiency and high performance of the power systems. This paper reviews the applications of power electronics in the integration of DG units, in particular, wind power, fuel cells and PV generators.

Power electronics as efficient interface in dispersed power generation systems

Power Electronics as Efficient Interface in Dispersed Power Generation Systems

Wind energy explained

Energy is an essential ingredient of socio-economic development and economic growth. Renewable energy sources like wind energy is indigenous and can help in reducing the dependency on fossil fuels. Wind is the indirect form of solar energy and is always being replenished by the sun. Wind is caused by differential heating of the earth's surface by the sun. It has been estimated that roughly 10 million MW of energy are continuously available in the earth's wind. Wind energy provides a variable and environmental friendly option and national energy security at a time when decreasing global reserves of fossil fuels threatens the long-term sustainability of global economy. This paper reviews the wind resources assessment models, site selection models and aerodynamic models including wake effect. The different existing performance and reliability evaluation models, various problems related to wind turbine components (blade, gearbox, generator and transformer) and grid for wind energy system have been discussed. This paper also reviews different techniques and loads for design, control systems and economics of wind energy conversion system.

A review of wind energy technologies

The Global Energy Assessment (GEA) brings together over 300 international researchers to provide an independent, scientifically based, integrated and policy-relevant analysis of current and emerging energy issues and options. It has been peer-reviewed anonymously by an additional 200 international experts. The GEA assesses the major global challenges for sustainable development and their linkages to energy; the technologies and resources available for providing energy services; future energy systems that address the major challenges; and the policies and other measures that are needed to realize transformational change toward sustainable energy futures. The GEA goes beyond existing studies on energy issues by presenting a comprehensive and integrated analysis of energy chalenges, opportunities and strategies, for developing, industrialized and emerging economies. This volume is a invaluable resource for energy specialists and technologists in all sectors (academia, industry and government) as well as policymakers, development economists and practitioners in international organizations and national governments.

Global Energy Assessment: Toward a Sustainable Future

As environmental concerns have focused attention on the generation of electricity from clean and renewable sources wind energy has become the world's fastest growing energy source. The Wind Energy Handbook draws on the authors' collective industrial and academic experience to highlight the interdisciplinary nature of wind energy research and provide a comprehensive treatment of wind energy for electricity generation.

Features include:

 * An authoritative overview of wind turbine technology and wind farm design and development
 * In-depth examination of the aerodynamics and performance of land-based horizontal axis wind turbines
 * A survey of alternative machine architectures and an introduction to the design of the key components
 * Description of the wind resource in terms of wind speed frequency distribution and the structure of turbulence
 * Coverage of site wind speed prediction techniques
 * Discussions of wind farm siting constraints and the assessment of environmental impact
 * The integration of wind farms into the electrical power system, including power quality and system stability
 * Functions of wind turbine controllers and design and analysis techniques 

With coverage ranging from practical concerns about component design to the economic importance of sustainable power sources, the Wind Energy Handbook will be an asset to engineers, turbine designers, wind energy consultants and graduate engineering students.

Wind Energy Handbook

Wind Energy Handbook: Burton/Wind Energy Handbook

If a pitch-regulated wind turbine has individual pitch actuators for each blade, the possibility arises to send different pitch angle demands to each blade. The possibility of using this as a way of reducing loads has been suggested many times over the years, but the idea has yet to gain full commercial acceptance. There are a number of reasons why this situation may be set to change, and very significant load reductions can result. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Individual Blade Pitch Control for Load Reduction

This article reviews the design of algorithms for wind turbine pitch control and also for generator torque control in the case of variable speed turbines. Some recent and possible future developments are discussed. Although pitch control is used primarily to limit power in high winds, it also has a significant effect on various loads. Particularly as turbines become larger, there is increasing interest in designing controllers to mitigate loads as far as possible. Torque control in variable speed turbines is used primarily to maximize energy capture below rated wind speed and to limit the torque above rated. Once again there are opportunities for designing these controllers so as to mitigate certain loads. In addition to improving the design of the control algorithms, it is also possible to use additional sensors to help the controller to achieve its objectives more effectively. The use of additional actuators in the form of individual pitch controllers for each blade is also discussed. It is important to be able to quantify the benefits of any new controller. Although computer simulations are useful, field trials are also vital. The variability of the real wind means that particular care is needed in the design of the trials. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The Design of closed loop controllers for wind turbines

This article reviews techniques for the control of wind turbines during power production. Pitch control is used primarily to limit power in high winds, but it also has an important effect on structural loads. Particularly as turbines become larger, there is increasing interest in designing controllers to mitigate loads as far as possible. Torque control in variable-speed turbines is used primarily to maximize energy capture below rated wind speed, and to limit the torque above rated, but it can also be used to reduce certain loads. The design of the control algorithms is clearly of prime importance. Additional sensors such as accelerometers and load sensors can also help the controller to achieve its objectives more effectively. By controlling the pitch of each blade independently, it is also possible to achieve important further reductions in loading. It is important to be able to quantify the benefits of any new controller. Although computer simulations are useful, field trials are also vital. The variability of the real wind means that particular care is needed in the design of the trials. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Ervin Bossanyi

Papers

Wind Energy Handbook

Wind Energy Handbook: Burton/Wind Energy Handbook

Individual Blade Pitch Control for Load Reduction

The Design of closed loop controllers for wind turbines

Wind Turbine Control for Load Reduction