An isolated electrical generation system powered by a Darrieus wind turbine is nearing completion. This is providing the University of Regina with a unique facility for the study of the economics and operation of isolated wind power systems, and for investigating the control and dynamics of such systems and alternatives for blade materials and coverings. It is suggested that the Darrieus wind system may provide significantly reduced costs in providing power to isolated locations. A demonstration system has been designed and installed. The motorizing circuit has been tested. >

This paper presents a review of over a decade of research on Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs) conducted at Uppsala University. The paper presents, among others, an overview of the 200 kW VAWT located in Falkenberg, Sweden, as well as a description of the work done on the 12 kW prototype VAWT in Marsta, Sweden. Several key aspects have been tested and successfully demonstrated at our two experimental research sites. The effort of the VAWT research has been aimed at developing a robust large scale VAWT technology based on an electrical control system with a direct driven energy converter. This approach allows for a simplification where most or all of the control of the turbines can be managed by the electrical converter system, reducing investment cost and need for maintenance. The concept features an H-rotor that is omnidirectional in regards to wind direction, meaning that it can extract energy from all wind directions without the need for a yaw system. The turbine is connected to a direct driven permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG), located at ground level, that is specifically developed to control and extract power from the turbine. The research is ongoing and aims for a multi-megawatt VAWT in the near future.

background

https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/9/7/570/pdf

A progress report on an isolated Darrieus wind electrical system

A Review of Research on Large Scale Modern Vertical Axis Wind Turbines at Uppsala University

Torsional vibrations may be a critical issue for those vertical axis wind turbines having long drive trains as compared with standard horizontal axis wind turbines. Such vibrations are studied by simulation for two different types of generators used with a vertical axis wind turbine, namely a conventional induction generator with a gearbox and a directly-driven multipole synchronous generator. The synchronous generator has been designed with FEM simulations. The didactic calculations show from first principles that a directly-driven generator is to be preferred when torsional vibrations are considered, since the eigenfrequency of the fundamental vibration is greater for a directly driven generator than otherwise. Thus, the risk of resonance is reduced in a stiff assembly. The generator damping of the vibrations for the simulated, directly-driven synchronous generator is also studied.

Generator-damped torsional vibrations of a vertical axis wind turbine

Renewable energy is harnessed from continuously replenishing natural processes. Some commonly known are sunlight, water, wind, tides, geothermal heat and various forms of biomass. The focus on rene ...

A progress report on an isolated Darrieus wind electrical system

Citations

A Review of Research on Large Scale Modern Vertical Axis Wind Turbines at Uppsala University

Generator-damped torsional vibrations of a vertical axis wind turbine

Grid Connection of Permanent Magnet Generator Based Renewable Energy Systems

Related Papers (5)

Modeling of the wind turbine

A Primary Power Supply System for Communications using a Darrieus Wind Turbine

Wind generation system - a comprehensive survey report

Wind Energy Systems: 1992 summer meeting panel session on developments in wind-electric conversion system technology

Wind Power Plants