Wind Demonstration Projects
| The RISE Outdoor Test Area (ROTA) has a number of wind stations
dedicated to monitoring the performance of a range of wind turbines from
local manufacturer Westwind Turbines. Wind turbines of different sizes,
from 3kW to 30kW are tested in various power configurations. Researchers
at RISE work in close collaboration with Westwind Turbines to optimise the
performance of their range of wind turbines and to develop prototype machines.
The performance monitoring of wind turbines plays an important role in the
path towards commercialisation of prototype products.
The current wind turbine testing activities at the ROTA include:
- Development of a new integrated overspeed mechanism on a 20kW Westwind
turbine
- Testing of a prototype advanced controller with a 5kW Westwind turbine
- Testing different sets of blades on a 3kW Westwind turbine
In addition, a new 30kW wind turbine has been manufactured by Westwind
and is due for installation at the RISE Outdoor Test Area in August 2006. |
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Overspeed Protection Mechanism
The photograph on the right shows Westwind engineers adjusting the
new pitch weight overspeed protection mechanism (PWOPM) on the 20kW Westwind
turbine. The PWOPM works on the principle of feathering the pitch angle
of the blades under the action of centrifugal forces. Several improvements
have been made to the blade mounting pads and the pitch mechanism in the
demonstration wind turbine to ensure the new layout is more robust with
a considerably reduced cost of manufacture. The verified and tested system
will be integrated into future wind turbines. |
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To monitor the performance of the new PWOPM, RISE staff have designed,
constructed and implemented a Blade Pitch Measurement System (BPMS). The
BPMS records the change in blade pitch angle and thus the degree of deployment
of the pitch weights. The BPMS relies on the use of RF modules for transmitting
information about the blade pitch angle to a ground based data logger. The
photograph on the left shows the Yagi antenna used to receive the signal
from the turbine. Results from the BPMS for different settings of the PWOPM
has enabled Westwind to find the optimal balance between protection and
power production for the 20kW turbine. |
Advanced Controller
The test set-up of a prototype advanced battery charge controller for
a Westwind 5kW wind turbine is shown on the right. The Advanced Controller
was designed and constructed by Westwind as a possible replacement for
their Standard Controller. RISE has conducted monitoring campaigns of
the performance of the 5kW turbine for different settings of the advanced
controller. These settings were based on matching the electrical
torque of the 5kW generator to 80%, 90% and 100% of the aerodynamic torque
produced by the rotor. RISE investigated the technical, economic
and social implications of using the Advanced Controller rather than the
Standard Controller to allow Westwind to decide whether to begin commercial
production of the Advanced Controller. If the testing is successful, Westwind
plan to use the Advanced Controllers with their whole range of wind turbines.
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New Blade Trials |
The photograph on the left shows new blades being
fitted to a 3kW wind turbine. The project involves monitoring the difference
in performance of the 3kW turbine caused by using two different sets
of blades on the rotor assembly. The two sets of blades are from
different blade manufacturers and have been manufactured using different
methods. The first set of blades has been made using the method
of pultrusion of fibreglass strands through a heated die, resulting in
simple, untwisted, constant chord blades. The second set of blades
has been made by hand-lay-up of fibreglass sheets, resulting in a more
sophisticated, twisted blade. Although the first set of blades involves
a cheaper manufacturing process, they involve greater labour costs on
the part of Westwind in terms of preparation of the blades to be mounted
on the hub of the turbine. RISE conducted performance monitoring
of the turbine and life cycle cost analyses of each blade set to assist
Westwind to decide which type of blade should be used on the 3kW machine. |
Student Involvement
The location of the ROTA at Murdoch University campus
allows Murdoch students to participate in various aspects of the RISE
wind demonstration projects as part of their Master's dissertation and
postgraduate project work.
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Wind Resource Assessment at the RISE Outdoor Test
Area
A 30 meter monitoring tower, at the ROTA, provides a comprehensive set of wind data which is used in the analysis
of the various wind turbine tests and performance assessments. The data
is also used in some of the Murdoch University Energy Studies units to
educate students in the field of wind resource assessment. The 30m meteorological mast measures the following parameters:
Height (m) |
Measured Parameters |
0 |
Air Pressure |
3 |
Temperature |
10 |
Temperature, Wind Direction, Wind Speed |
18 |
Temperature, Wind Direction, Wind Speed |
24 |
Temperature, Wind Direction, Wind Speed |
30 |
Temperature, Relative Humidity, Wind Direction, Wind
Speed |
The Wind Resource Handbook of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
of the USA (NREL) has been used as a guide in designing the layout of
the sensors on the mast (shown above and left). The hub-heights
of 18m, 24m and 30m coincide with the hub-heights of wind turbines
at the site. The wind resource data is recorded by a logging system
at the base of the mast. Data is also used for monitoring the performance of specific wind systems, in order
to provide information on the wind resource to correlate with wind turbine
performance. The mast is lowered (using a winch) on a yearly basis
in order to check the sensors and carry out maintenance as required. |
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Wind Resource Data
The charts below show the diurnal wind profile for the ROTA at 10m and at 30m based on data from November 2005 and the corresponding wind speed frequency histograms.
Wind Consultancy
RISE also is available for consultancy work in the areas of wind monitoring and wind resource prediction, preliminary wind farm feasibility studies and wind-electric pumping systems.
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