WIND DIESEL SYSTEMS By Krishna Raghavan, Arrakis Associate Wind-Diesel (W-D) hybrid systems combine wind turbines with

diesel generating sets (DG sets) for electricity generation. This can either be a new WD hybrid power plant or wind turbines can be integrated with an existing diesel power plant having one or more DG sets supplying power into a de-centralised grid. The main purpose of adding wind turbines is to reduce diesel fuel consumption leading to the environmental and cost benefits associated with reducing usage of fossil fuels.

The penetration level of the wind power plant in a diesel electric grid is the ratio of the capacities of the wind power plant to the diesel power plant. The penetration level determines the complexity of the system. For low penetration levels (15% - 20%), standard wind electric generators (manufactured for operation connected to large mainland grids) can be connected directly to the AC bus of the diesel grid. The wind turbines have their own microprocessor based control systems and safety features, and this is sufficient to maintain grid stability (voltage and frequency). At least one DG set is kept running and energises the grid all the time. Since the capacity factor of the wind turbines will only be around 25-30%, a low penetration of wind turbines does not lead to substantial diesel fuel savings.

To make large savings in diesel fuel consumption it is necessary to add a high proportion of wind turbines so that more wind power is generated. If, during periods of high wind speeds, the wind power is more than the loads then it is also necessary to shut down all the DG sets to effect maximum diesel savings. This is because, as the load on a DG set decreases, the efficiency also decreases since the specific fuel consumption increases; therefore running a diesel engine at low loads is very inefficient. The most efficient way to operate a DG set is to run it at close to full load or to turn it off. Most diesel gensets consume around 20% of the fuel consumption while idling (zero load). Diesel engine manufacturers also advise on a minimum load of 30% to avoid problems in the cylinders known as bore glazing, though some manufacturers are now offering low load units that permits running diesel engines for extended periods of time at very low loads.

The Wind Diesel Control System uses rugged industrial PLC's.

In order to maintain grid stability at high wind power penetration levels and for automatic control of the DG sets, a Wind-Diesel Control System is necessary. A high-penetration, no storage Wind Diesel Integrated Control System (WDICS) has been developed and tested by the Atlantic Wind Test Site (AWTS) at Prince Edward Island in Canada. AWTS has done some pioneering work in the development of wind-diesels and has a variety of wind turbines at their test site connected to two DG sets, a dump load and synchronous condensers. The synchronous condensors provide reactive power to the induction generators on the wind turbines when all the diesel engines are shut down (during high wind speeds).

The Frequency Regulator is a binary resistance bank.

This WDICS was a component of the wind diesel system that has been installed on Sagar Island in the state of West Bengal in India. This was a project of West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency (WBREDA) and installation of the first phase was executed by Auroville Wind Systems/ Auroville Energy Products (AEP) (www.aurovillewindsystems.com) as in a turn- key project. The project was financially supported by the Indian Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources (MNES) and Indian Canadian Environment Fund (ICEF) The Sagar Island wind diesel hybrid system consists of: Ten 50 kW wind turbines (AOC 15/50, 15 meter diameter, downwind, stall regulated, electromagnetic tip brakes, tilt-up lattice tower); Two 250 kW diesel gensets. There is a clutch between the diesel engine and its synchronous generator which serves as a synchronous condensor when the engine is turned off during high wind speeds. Frequency regulator consisting of a binary resistance bank that acts as a dump load; Wind Diesel Integrated Control System PC-based SCADA system

The diesel generator sets

The PC-based Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition System (SCADA).

Two wind turbines and the WDICS were installed as Phase-1 in 2002. Phase-2 consisting of eight more wind turbines still awaits completion. Photos and schematics have been provided by Carl Brothers, Site Manager of AWTS who is now installing another wind diesel on the island of Newfoundland.

For further information please contact:

Raghavan (info@arrakis.nl) who carried out the Feasibility Study of the Sagar Island Wind Diesel Hybrid System. Carl Brothers (carl.brothers@awts.pe.ca) who designed, constructed and installed the Wind Diesel Integrated Control System (WDICS).