Wind Energy Explained

Preface Acknowledgements Introduction: Modern wind energy and its origins Modern wind turbines History of wind energy Wind characteristics and resources Introduction General characteristics of the wind resource Characteristics of the atmospheric boundary layer Wind data analysis and resource estimation Wind turbine energy production estimates using statistical techniques Overview of available resource assessment data Wind measurements and instrumentation Advanced topics Aerodynamics of wind turbines General overview One-dimensional momentum theory and the Betz limit Ideal horizontal axis wind turbing with wake rotation' Airfoils and general concepts of aerodynamics Momentum theory and blade element theory Blade shape for ideal rotor without wake rotation General rotor blade shape performance prediction Blade shape for optimum rotor with wake rotation Generalized rotor design procedure Simplified HAWT rotor performance calculation procedure Effect of drag and blade number on optimum performance Advanced aerodynamic topics Mechanics and dynamics Wind turbine rotor dynamics Detailed and specialized dynamic models Electrical aspects of wind turbines Basic concepts of electric power Power transformers Electrical machines Power converters Ancillary electrical equipment Wind turbine design Design procedure Wind turbine topologies Materials Machine elements Wind turbine loads Wind turbine subsystems and components Design evaluation Power curve prediction Wind turbine loads Wind turbine subsystems and components Design evaluation Power curve prediction Wind turbine control Overview of wind turbine control systems Typical grid-connected turbine operation Supervisory control overview and implementation Dynamic control theory and implementation Wind turbine siting, system design and integration Wind turbine siting Installation and operation issues Wind farms Wind turbines and wind farms in electric grids Offshore wind farms Operation in severe climates Hybrid electrical systems Wind energy system economics Overview of economic assessment of wind energy systems Capital costs of wind energy systems Operation and maintenance costs Value of wind energy Economic analysis methods Wind energy market considerations Wind energy systems: environmental aspects and impacts Avian interaction with wind trubines Visual impact of wind turbines Wind turbine noise Electromagnetic interference effects Land-use environmental impacts Other environmental considerations Nomenclature Problems Index