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- Category: Articles
Wind Turbines and Air Traffic Contol
Throughout the world, wind turbines are rapidly becoming a widespread feature of landscapes, because of efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, spurred on by presidential mandates and global agreements. Air traffic control radars are just one of many types of radar that are being directly affected by the proliferation of wind turbines in the environment, and Raytheon is one of the leading companies addressing the issue of wind turbine and radar coexistence.
By Peter Drake, Raytheon Company, USA, and Brian Smith, Raytheon Canada Ltd
Throughout the world, wind turbines are rapidly becoming a widespread feature of landscapes, because of efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, spurred on by presidential mandates and global agreements. Air traffic control radars are just one of many types of radar that are being directly affected by the proliferation of wind turbines in the environment, and Raytheon is one of the leading companies addressing the issue of wind turbine and radar coexistence.By Peter Drake, Raytheon Company, USA, and Brian Smith, Raytheon Canada Ltd
- Category: Articles
Next Generation Wind/Water Turbines
Reducing the reliance on fossil fuel for the generation of power is a global priority. Several alternative energy sources have been identified and first generation equipment is already being utilised to harness wind, water, solar and geothermal energy, but in many cases the scope of these installations is limited by design issues.
By Anatoly Arov, Inventor, Canada
Reducing the reliance on fossil fuel for the generation of power is a global priority. Several alternative energy sources have been identified and first generation equipment is already being utilised to harness wind, water, solar and geothermal energy, but in many cases the scope of these installations is limited by design issues.By Anatoly Arov, Inventor, Canada
- Category: Articles
The Optimal Mix for a Powerful Europe
The recent financial and economic crisis shows that unlimited and unregulated growth is not sustainable. Increasing energy prices, dependency on energy imports and the need to mitigate climate change require joined-up thinking within Europe to promote a sustainable and climate-friendly power supply system that is driven by solar, wind and other renewable energies. Smart investors will soon be inspired by this vision to make it happen. The central insight is that wind, solar, pan-European transmission and storage form an interdependent system. This system has to be optimised according to the specific costs of each of these technologies.
By Lueder von Bremen, ForWind – Center for Wind Energy Research, University of Oldenburg, Germany. Co-authors: Jens Tambke, Jan De Decker and Kurt Rohrig
The recent financial and economic crisis shows that unlimited and unregulated growth is not sustainable. Increasing energy prices, dependency on energy imports and the need to mitigate climate change require joined-up thinking within Europe to promote a sustainable and climate-friendly power supply system that is driven by solar, wind and other renewable energies. Smart investors will soon be inspired by this vision to make it happen. The central insight is that wind, solar, pan-European transmission and storage form an interdependent system. This system has to be optimised according to the specific costs of each of these technologies.By Lueder von Bremen, ForWind – Center for Wind Energy Research, University of Oldenburg, Germany. Co-authors: Jens Tambke, Jan De Decker and Kurt Rohrig
- Category: Articles
New Insight into the Atmospheric Conditions for Wind Turbine Aerodynamics and Aeroelastics
The DANAERO MW experiment was initiated because scientists and wind turbine designers in Denmark realised that more knowledge about the aerodynamics for megawatt wind turbines was required to further optimise the design of these wind turbines. In 2007 the DANAERO MW project was given a grant by the Danish Energy Agency. Risø DTU was made the coordinator, and DONG Energy, LM Wind Power, Siemens Wind Power and Vestas Wind Systems agreed on carrying out a series of experiments. The project was finalised at the end of 2009.
By Christian Bak (Senior Scientist) and Helge A. Madsen (Research Specialist), Risø DTU National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, Denmark
The DANAERO MW experiment was initiated because scientists and wind turbine designers in Denmark realised that more knowledge about the aerodynamics for megawatt wind turbines was required to further optimise the design of these wind turbines. In 2007 the DANAERO MW project was given a grant by the Danish Energy Agency. Risø DTU was made the coordinator, and DONG Energy, LM Wind Power, Siemens Wind Power and Vestas Wind Systems agreed on carrying out a series of experiments. The project was finalised at the end of 2009.By Christian Bak (Senior Scientist) and Helge A. Madsen (Research Specialist), Risø DTU National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, Denmark
- Category: Articles
Comparisons at Hansen’s 13MW Test Facility
Continuous up-scaling of wind turbine size into the multi-megawatt class, together with developments for offshore installation, means that there is a demand for new wind turbine configurations and technologies. High product reliability is a key factor in these developments, a requirement that is cascaded down to each component manufacturer in the supply chain. With a majority of currently installed wind turbines being gear driven, gearbox manufacturers are being challenged to deliver a drive system, at a high quality level, which will operate in a highly dynamic environment. Reliable drive train design requires good understanding of the gear unit and its dynamic behaviour, particularly in the operational conditions experienced in a wind turbine.
By Ben Marrant, Frederik Vanhollebeke and Joris Peeters, Hansen Transmissions, Belgium
Continuous up-scaling of wind turbine size into the multi-megawatt class, together with developments for offshore installation, means that there is a demand for new wind turbine configurations and technologies. High product reliability is a key factor in these developments, a requirement that is cascaded down to each component manufacturer in the supply chain. With a majority of currently installed wind turbines being gear driven, gearbox manufacturers are being challenged to deliver a drive system, at a high quality level, which will operate in a highly dynamic environment. Reliable drive train design requires good understanding of the gear unit and its dynamic behaviour, particularly in the operational conditions experienced in a wind turbine.By Ben Marrant, Frederik Vanhollebeke and Joris Peeters, Hansen Transmissions, Belgium
- Category: Articles
The Hidden Factor in Turbine Unavailability
Wind farm owners, operators and financial backers have traditionally relied upon availability numbers as the best way to predict the amount of power and revenue a given project will produce over its lifetime. Yet a cursory survey of turbine vendors and industry consultants reveals enormous discrepancies concerning the calculation of availability.
By Craig Christenson, Vice President of Engineering, Clipper Windpower, USA
Wind farm owners, operators and financial backers have traditionally relied upon availability numbers as the best way to predict the amount of power and revenue a given project will produce over its lifetime. Yet a cursory survey of turbine vendors and industry consultants reveals enormous discrepancies concerning the calculation of availability.By Craig Christenson, Vice President of Engineering, Clipper Windpower, USA
- Category: Articles
A Question of Goals – All Electric?
From its beginnings the wind industry has recognised the profound need for equitable and environmentally acceptable methods for harvesting energy from naturally occurring renewable resources. It is also recognised today that many different methodologies need to be employed to supply power to the myriad applications that house, feed, protect and transport us around the planet. Equally, it is recognised that the pressures for more and better alternatives grow as the environment struggles to maintain its natural, life-sustaining, balance. This article discusses how W2, in its development of the WindWing/WaterWing system, has attempted to address the long-term requirement for wind harvesting that does not have severe economic and environmental consequences.
By Gene R. Kelley, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, W2 Energy Development Corporation, USA
From its beginnings the wind industry has recognised the profound need for equitable and environmentally acceptable methods for harvesting energy from naturally occurring renewable resources. It is also recognised today that many different methodologies need to be employed to supply power to the myriad applications that house, feed, protect and transport us around the planet. Equally, it is recognised that the pressures for more and better alternatives grow as the environment struggles to maintain its natural, life-sustaining, balance. This article discusses how W2, in its development of the WindWing/WaterWing system, has attempted to address the long-term requirement for wind harvesting that does not have severe economic and environmental consequences.By Gene R. Kelley, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, W2 Energy Development Corporation, USA
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