Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 7
Lawrence Staudt
Center for Renewable Energy, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Ireland.
For the purposes of this chapter, “small” wind turbines will be defi ned as those
with a power rating of 50 kW or less (approximately 15 m rotor diameter). Small
electricity-generating wind turbines have been in existence since the early 1900s,
having been particularly popular for providing power for dwellings not yet con-
nected to national electricity grids. These turbines largely disappeared as rural
electrifi cation took place, and have primarily been used for remote power until
recently. The oil crisis of the 1970s led to a resurgence in small wind technology,
including the new concept of grid-connected small wind technology. There are
few small wind turbine manufacturers with a track record spanning more than a
decade. This can be attributed to diffi cult market conditions and nascent technol-
ogy. However, the technology is becoming more mature, energy prices are rising
and public awareness of renewable energy is increasing. There are now many
small wind turbine companies around the world who are addressing the growing
market for both grid-connected and remote power applications. The design fea-
tures of small wind turbines, while similar to large wind turbines, often differ in
signifi cant ways.
1 Small wind technology
Technological approaches taken for the various components of a small wind
turbine will be examined: the rotor, the drivetrain, the electrical systems and
the tower. Of course wind turbines must be designed as a system, and so rotor
design affects drivetrain design which affects control system design, etc. and so
no component of a wind turbine can be considered in isolation. In general small
wind turbines should be designed to IEC61400-2, Design Requirements for Small
Wind Turbines [ 2 ].
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