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- Category: Articles
An Alternative to Rotary Wind Systems
‘Vibro-wind’ denotes the harvesting of energy from the wind as it flows around vibrating structures and is an emerging alternative to conventional rotary wind turbines. The basic science involves wind-induced vibration due to the non-linear fluid flow and vortices around flexible bodies and structures. Two key problems in this technology are: (1) how to convert wind energy into vibratory mechanical energy and (2) how to maximise mechanical energy conversion into electrical energy and storage from the vibration of a large array of hundreds of oscillators. A target application is for architectural facades in buildings, similar to, and as a complement to, solar energy panels.
By Francis C. Moon, Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, USA
‘Vibro-wind’ denotes the harvesting of energy from the wind as it flows around vibrating structures and is an emerging alternative to conventional rotary wind turbines. The basic science involves wind-induced vibration due to the non-linear fluid flow and vortices around flexible bodies and structures. Two key problems in this technology are: (1) how to convert wind energy into vibratory mechanical energy and (2) how to maximise mechanical energy conversion into electrical energy and storage from the vibration of a large array of hundreds of oscillators. A target application is for architectural facades in buildings, similar to, and as a complement to, solar energy panels.By Francis C. Moon, Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, USA
- Category: Articles
New Development Secures Achievement of Requested Emergency Pitch Stroke
AVN Energy has developed a dynamic simulation model that can be used to verify the performance of its hydraulic pitch systems. The basic idea of the program is to facilitate pitch simulation with user-specific parameters in order to simulate the physical and environmental conditions of a wind turbine. Using this newly developed simulation program users can investigate if the accumulators, cylinders and valves have the correct dimensions in proportion to each other and thus can always achieve the requested emergency pitch stroke.
By Ea Dyrbye, Marketing Project Manager, and Søren Stubkier, Industrial Researcher, AVN Energy A/S, Denmark
AVN Energy has developed a dynamic simulation model that can be used to verify the performance of its hydraulic pitch systems. The basic idea of the program is to facilitate pitch simulation with user-specific parameters in order to simulate the physical and environmental conditions of a wind turbine. Using this newly developed simulation program users can investigate if the accumulators, cylinders and valves have the correct dimensions in proportion to each other and thus can always achieve the requested emergency pitch stroke.By Ea Dyrbye, Marketing Project Manager, and Søren Stubkier, Industrial Researcher, AVN Energy A/S, Denmark
- Category: Articles
Small is Sometimes Better
Wind turbine blade manufacturers are being challenged to build larger and larger blades, exhausting the capabilities of current composite materials. The emerging field of nanotechnology will offer dramatic benefits for composites applications. This article introduces the reader to the unique properties of nanoparticles, and why their small size is important. The technical hurdles for nanomaterials are addressed and an example of how nanomaterials can improve the performance of materials is given.
By Blake Branson, President, Chief Science Officer, sp3 nanotech, USA
Wind turbine blade manufacturers are being challenged to build larger and larger blades, exhausting the capabilities of current composite materials. The emerging field of nanotechnology will offer dramatic benefits for composites applications. This article introduces the reader to the unique properties of nanoparticles, and why their small size is important. The technical hurdles for nanomaterials are addressed and an example of how nanomaterials can improve the performance of materials is given.By Blake Branson, President, Chief Science Officer, sp3 nanotech, USA
- Category: Articles
A Guide to Standards
Surge protection is a field of knowledge all on its own, which is becoming both larger and more important to the wind industry as it becomes more common to try to design a thorough system of protection against over-voltages. This has become especially relevant as cost-conscious companies increasingly focus on the wear caused by surge events to electrical and electronic components.
By Thomas Holm Krogh, Consulting Engineer, Electricon A/S, Denmark
Surge protection is a field of knowledge all on its own, which is becoming both larger and more important to the wind industry as it becomes more common to try to design a thorough system of protection against over-voltages. This has become especially relevant as cost-conscious companies increasingly focus on the wear caused by surge events to electrical and electronic components.
By Thomas Holm Krogh, Consulting Engineer, Electricon A/S, Denmark
- 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
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