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- Category: Articles
Going Big by Thinking Small
The average wind speed on this planet is 5 m/s. However, as most people in the industry know, conventional wind generators are designed to achieve optimum performance at wind speeds between 12 and 25 m/s. Sites that can provide that kind of wind energy are unusual and everybody seems happy when a wind generator works at least 30 to 35% of the time. The author describes his Motorwind concept, which he thinks will overcome this discrepancy and make wind energy more efficient and more widely available.
By Lucien Gambarota, Motorwave Group, Hong Kong
- Category: Articles
Problems of a Reliable Connection between Steel Tower and Concrete Foundation
The construction of wind energy converters is normally based on an expected lifetime of 20 years. This assumption is made when designing the mechanical parts of the engine and the reinforced concrete foundation. However, in some cases defects occur much earlier and raise questions of serviceability, stability and durability. This article deals with the problems of how to connect a steel tower to a reinforced concrete foundation. It shows the possible damage that might occur and an example of reconstruction.
By Marc Gutermann, managing partner, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffens Ing., Germany
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The construction of wind energy converters is normally based on an expected lifetime of 20 years. This assumption is made when designing the mechanical parts of the engine and the reinforced concrete foundation. However, in some cases defects occur much earlier and raise questions of serviceability, stability and durability. This article deals with the problems of how to connect a steel tower to a reinforced concrete foundation. It shows the possible damage that might occur and an example of reconstruction.By Marc Gutermann, managing partner, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffens Ing., Germany
- Category: Articles
Gamesa Consolidates its own Preventive Maintenance
Among its many other activities, Gamesa is involved with predictive maintenance services and condition monitoring systems. In this article Gamesa's services and systems are described in the wider context of the needs for integrated condition monitoring, prediction and preventive maintenance for wind turbines.By Gamesa Eólica, Spain
- Category: Articles
A Non-Battery, Air-to-Air Hybrid System
In this article, R.S. Chauhan discusses his ideas for a long-duration (up to 90 days) non-battery air-to-air hybrid back-up system which converts and stores wind energy into an acceptable form during windy periods. This stored energy can then be released to rotate small wind (aero) generators when there is no wind or the wind speed is below the critical velocity. Such a system could ensure the availability of power from wind generators at all times.By R.S. Chauhan, India
.- Category: Articles
Wind Power Anywhere
The Magenn Air Rotor System ‘MARS’ is a Wind Power Anywhere solution with certain advantages over existing conventional wind turbines and diesel generating systems. These advantages include global deployment, low costs, good operational performance and environmental benefits. The article describes the features of the system, and its history and development, quoting extensively from the words of its creator, Fred Ferguson, before listing the advantages and market that Magenn foresee for this system.By Mac Brown, CEO Magenn Power, Canada
- Category: Articles
A Case Study
Based on a real case study, this article addresses the issues that can be encountered during project planning when a wind resource assessment programme (WRAP) is not adequately designed. The study highlights the uncertainty induced by vertical and horizontal extrapolation of the wind resource. The impact of these parameters on energy production is demonstrated based on simulations using commercial wind resource models. The resulting conclusions highlight the importance of well-designed WRAPs. The experience, results, benefits and challenges of sodar (sound detection and ranging) use are briefly reviewed in the context of the complex terrain and operating conditions of Canada. Limitations encountered by numerical models (steady state wind flow model, CFD model) are also examined in a comparative case study.By Bouaziz Ait-Driss, Francis Pelletier, Milena Dimitrijevic and Christophe Sibuet-Watters, Helimax Energy, Canada
- Category: Articles
A New Option for Wind Integration?
This article presents a recent analysis of wind energy integration into the electricity systems of Germany and Austria. It raises the question of whether flexible demand can provide cheap balancing options to fulfil the growing need for balancing capacity. The main focus is on the interaction of wind power production and flexible demand to im-prove the total system efficiency. Detailed simulations of wind power production and power plant operation are used to quantify additional reserve power, which, next to grid extension, is the main issue concerning the integration of wind energy. An assessment of demand response potentials provided evidence that the costs of additional reserve power could be reduced and that demand response can be a valuable option for inte-grating wind power into electricity systems.
By Marian Klobasa, Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research, Germany
