Growing energy demand and environmental consciousness have re-evoked
human
interest in wind energy. As a result, wind is the fastest growing
energy source in
the world today. Policy frame works and action plans have already
been formu-
lated at various corners for meeting at least 20 per cent of the
global energy de-
mand with new-renewables by 2010, among which wind is going to be
the major
player.
In view of the rapid growth
of wind industry, Universities, all around the world,
have given due emphasis to wind energy technology in their undergraduate
and
graduate curriculum. These academic programmes attract students from
diversi-
fied backgrounds, ranging from social science to engineering and
technology.
Fundamentals of wind energy conversion, which is discussed in the
preliminary
chapters of this book, have these students as the target group. Advanced
resource
analysis tools derived and applied are beneficial to academics and
researchers
working in this area. The Wind Energy Resource Analysis (WERA) software,
provided with the book, is an effective tool for wind energy practitioners
for as-
sessing the energy potential and simulating turbine performance at
prospective
sites.
The introductory chapter
narrates the historic development of wind energy
technology along with its present status and future prospects. This
is followed by
Chapter 2, which presents the basic principles of wind energy conversion.
De-
scriptions on different types of wind machines and their performances
are briefed
here. Basics of wind rotor aerodynamics and its application in the
turbine design
are also presented in this chapter.
The third chapter is devoted
to the methods of measurement and analysis of
wind spectra for energy use. Statistical methods for wind energy
analysis are in-
troduced here. These are further extended for developing models for
estimating
the wind energy potential of a prospective site.
Constructional features
of various systems and sub-systems of a Wind Energy
Conversion System (WECS) are described in Chapter 4. Along with wind
electric
generators, wind powered water pumping systems are also considered.
Features of
wind farms, both onshore and offshore, are also discussed in this
chapter.
Chapter 5 deals with performance
models of WECS. Tools to simulate the field
performance of wind powered generators and water pumps are presented
in this
section. Optimal matching of WECS with the site is also discussed.
Sixth chapter is devoted
to the environmental aspects of wind energy conver-
sion. While highlighting the environment related merits of wind energy,
the recent
concerns over avian issues, visual impacts, noise etc. are not
overlooked. A life
cycle based approach is adopted for these discussions.
Economics of wind
energy conversion is analysed in Chapter 7, following the
present worth method. Factors affecting the costs and benefits
of wind generated
electricity are discussed and indices for economic appraisal are
evolved.
Wind Energy Resource
Analysis (WERA) software, which comes along with
the book, is beneficial to readers who are not familiar with the
numerical tech-
niques applied in wind resource analysis. Illustrative examples included
in all the
chapters compliment the concepts presented in the text.
Subjects presented in
this book are primarily derived from my experiences in
teaching undergraduate and graduate engineering students.
Research and field ex-
periences on WECS have also helped me in formulating the
materials presented.
Further, serving as a resource person for various wind energy
training programmes
has also helped me in adopting a multi-disciplinary approach,
which is essential
for tackling a subject like wind energy. Hence, I would like to
thank my students
for their contribution.
Compiling information
from various sources is essential for developing a book
of this nature. I thank the authors of research papers and
reports, which are re-
ferred in various chapters of this book. Several industries and
organizations have
supported me by providing information and materials which were
essential for this
project. Special thanks are due to Hawaiian Electric Company, Renewable Energy
Sys-
tems Ltd, THALES
instruments GmbH, Vaisala Oyj, Siemens Wind Power A/S,
ReSoft, and Wikipedia, on
this account.
I am fortunate to have
the wholehearted support from my professors and
colleagues for this project. Let me thank Prof. K.I. Koshy,
Prof. C.P. Muhammad
and Prof. Jippu Jacob for perusing the manuscript. Contribution
of Prof. Anilku-
mar V and Dr. Damodar Rao in developing WERA is thankfully
acknowledged.
Thanks are also due to Prof. John D Burton, Prof. K.P Pandey,
Prof. Ashok Alex
Philip, Prof. Vishnu B, Dr. Dhalin D and Er. Nisha T.V, for
their helps at various
stages of this work.
As ‘to err is human’,
suggestions for improving the content of this book in fu-
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ture are most welcome
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