A Paper On Wind Energy

Wagdarikar Vinayak 1, Gaikwad Harshal *2

Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Brahmdevdada Mane Institute Of Technology, Solapur
vnk1806@gmail.com

ABSTRACT: Due to the concern on the availability
of recoverable fossil fuel reserves and the
environmental problems caused by the use those fossil
fuels, considerable attention has been given to wind
energy production as an alternative to nonrenewable
energy sources. However, as the wind energy is
produced from wind mills which is described in this
paper.
these airflows that are harnessed in windmills and wind
turbines to produce power.
Wind power is not a new development as this power, in
the form of traditional
Windmills -for grinding corn, pumping water, sailing
ships – have been used for centuries.
Now wind power is harnessed to generate electricity in a
larger scale with better technology.

KEY WORDS:

Wind energy facilities, wind turbines,

Wind resource potential

I. Introduction:
Wind power is increasingly becoming one of the fastest
growing sustainable energy resources as fossil fuel and
other carbon fuels are being rapidly depleted. Moreover,
they are becoming more expensive, while the demand for
energy consumption continues to expand in order to meet
the fast growth of the world population. Countries across
the world are becoming concerned with the harmful
environmental effect these fuels have on earth, which
includes air pollution, global warming, severe climate
change and its long term damage to human health. Energy
generated by wind turbine is by far one of the cleanest
energy resources, while the aerodynamic design of the
wind turbine blades has a significant impact on the wind
energy exploitation efficiency. Therefore, factors that
affect the production of wind power is being widely
studied and explored especially on its aerodynamic design
and its power generation mechanism.

II. Wind Energy:

Wind energy is basically harnessing of wind power to
produce electricity. The kinetic energy of the wind is
converted to electrical energy. When solar radiation enters
the earth’s atmosphere, different regions of the FIG 1.1
atmosphere are heated to different degrees because of
earth curvature. This heating is higher at the equator and
lowest at the poles. Since air tends to flow from warmer
to cooler regions, this causes what we call winds, and it is
 III. Wind Energy Technology
The basic wind energy conversion device is the wind
turbine. Although various designs and configurations
exist, these turbines are generally grouped into two types:
1. Vertical-axis wind turbines:
In which the axis of rotation is vertical with
respect to the ground (and roughly perpendicular to
the wind stream),
2. Horizontal-axis turbines:
In which the axis of rotation is horizontal with
respect to the ground (and roughly parallel to the
wind stream.)

FIG 1.2 Wind Turbine Configurations

The Figure illustrates the two types of turbines and typical

subsystems for an electricity generation application. The
subsystems include a blade or rotor, which converts the
energy in the wind to rotational shaft energy; a drive train,
usually including a gearbox and a generator, a tower that
supports the rotor and drive train, and other equipment,
including controls, electrical cables, ground support
equipment, and interconnection equipment.

The three bladed rotor is the most important and most

visible part of the wind turbine. It is through the rotor that
the energy of the wind is transformed into mechanical
energy that turns the main shaft of the wind turbine. We
will start by describing why the blades are shaped the way
that they are and what really happens, when the blades
rotate.

FIG 1.3 Horizontal-axis turbines:

IV. BASIC THEORY

Aerodynamics is the science and study of the physical
laws of the behavior of objects in an air flow and the
forces that are produced by air flows.
The front and rear sides of a wind turbine rotor blade have
a shape roughly similar to that of a long rectangle,
with the edges bounded by the leading edge, the trailing
edge, the blade tip and the blade root. The blade root is
bolted to the hub.
The radius of the blade is the distance from the rotor shaft
to the outer edge of the blade tip. Some wind turbine
blades have moveable blade tips as air brakes,
and one can often see the distinct line separating the blade
tip component from the blade itself.
If a blade were sawn in half, one would see that the cross
section has a streamlined asymmetrical shape, with the
flattest side facing the oncoming air flow or wind. This
shape is called the blade Õsaerodynamic profile
Fig. 1.4 structural cross section
Blade is all-glass fiber construction with an imbedded
stud root structure, a thickened spar cap, and a single
shear web.
Wind electric generators (WEG)
Wind electric generator converts kinetic energy available
in wind to electrical energy by using rotor, gear box and
generator. There are a large number of manufacturers for
wind electric generators in India who have foreign
collaboration with different manufacturers of Denmark,
Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, USA, Austria, Sweden,
Spain, and U.K. etc. At present, WEGs of rating ranging
from 225 kW to 1000 kW are being installed in our
country.
Evaluating Wind Mill Performance
Wind turbines are rated at a certain wind speed and
annual energy output
Annual Energy Output = Power x Time
Example: For a 100 kW turbine producing 20 kW at an
average wind speed of 25 km/h, the calculation would be:
100 kW x 0.20 (CF) = 20 kW x 8760 hours = 175,200
kWh
The Capacity Factor (CF) is simply the wind turbines
actual energy output for the year divided by the energy
output if the machine operated at its rated power output
for the entire year. A reasonable capacity factor would be
0.25 to 0.30 and a very good capacity factor would be
around 0.40. It is important to select a site with good
capacity factor, as economic viability of wind power
projects is extremely sensitive to the capacity factor.
Wind Potential
In order for a wind energy system to be feasible there
must be an adequate wind supply. A wind energy system
usually requires an average annual wind speed of at least
15 km/h. The following table represents a guideline of
different wind speeds and their potential in producing
electricity.
Average Wind Speed
Suitability
km/h (mph)
Up to 15 (9.5) No good
18 (11.25) Poor
22 (13.75) Moderate
25 (15.5) Good
29 (18) Excellent
Fig 1.5
A wind generator will produce lesser power in summer
than in winter at the same wind speed as air has lower
density in summer than in winter.
Similarly, a wind generator will produce lesser power in
higher altitudes - as air pressure as well as density is
lower -than at lower altitudes.
The wind speed is the most important factor influencing
the amount of energy a wind turbine can produce.
Increasing wind velocity increases the amount of air
passing the rotor, which increases the output of the wind • Wind turbines for remote water pumping generate 3
system. phase AC current suitable for driving an
In order for a wind system to be effective, a relatively electrical submersible pump directly. Wind
consistent wind flow is required. Obstructions such as turbines suitable for residential or village scale
trees or hills can interfere with the wind supply to the wind power range from 500 Watts to 50
rotors. To avoid this, rotors are placed on top of towers to kilowatts.
take advantage of the strong winds available high above
the ground. The towers are generally placed 100 meters VI. Advantages
away from the nearest obstacle. The middle of the rotor is (1) The wind energy is free, inexhaustible and does not
placed 10 meters above any obstacle that is within 100 need transportation.
meters. (2) Wind mills will be highly desirable and economical to
the rural areas
Wind Energy in India Which are far from existing grids?
(3) Wind power can be used in combination with
India has been rated as one of the most promising hydroelectric plants. Such
countries for wind power development, with an estimated that the water level in the reservoir can be maintained for
potential of 20,000 MW. Total installed capacity of wind longer periods.
electric generators in the world as on Sept. 2001 is 23270
MW. Germany 8100 MW, Spain- 3175 MW, USA 4240
MW, Denmark 2417 MW, and India - 1426 MW top the VII. Disadvantage
list of countries. Thus, India ranks fifth in the world in
Wind power generation. (1) Wind power is not consistent and steady, which makes
There are 39 wind potential stations in Tamil Nadu, 36 in the complications
Gujarat, 30 in Andhra Pradesh, 27 in Maharashtra, 26 in in designing the whole plant.
Karnataka, 16 in Kerala, 8 in Lakshadweep, 8 Rajasthan, (2) The wind is a very hazard one. Special and costly
7 in Madhya Pradesh, 7 in Orissa, 2 in West Bengal, 1 in designs and controls
Andaman Nicobar and 1 in Uttar Pradesh. Out of 208 are always required.
suitable stations 7 stations have shown wind power (3) The cost factor, which has restricted the development
density more than 500 Watts/ m2. of wind power in
large scale for feeding to the existing grid .
Central Govt. Assistance and Incentives (4) It has low power coefficient.
(5) Careful survey is necessary for plant location.
The following financial and technical assistance are
provided to promote, support and accelerate the VIII. CONCLUSION:
development of wind energy in India:
Five years tax holiday 100% depreciation in the first year
As now a days conventional energy sources are getting
Facilities by SEB's for grid connection Energy banking
destroyed with time so non conventional energy sources
and wheeling and energy buy back Industry status and
such s wind energy is best alternative for this.
capital subsidy Electricity tax exemption
Wind energy is naturally available and does not cause any
Sales tax exemption
harm to the environment balance also it is not pollutant
source of energy.
V. Applications It can be used in large extent on hilly area with less
maintains cost.
• Utility interconnected wind turbines generate
power which is synchronous with the grid IX. Reference:
and are used to reduce utility bills by
displacing the utility power used in the 1.NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY SOURCES BY
household and by selling the excess power G.D RAI (Khanna publications)
back to the electric company. 2.www.ieee.com
3. www.patternstrom.com
• Wind turbines for remote homes (off the grid)
generate DC current for battery charging.