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Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

POLItecnico
di MIlano

C.L. Bottasso
Politecnico di Milano

November 2011

Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

Outline
Basic working principles of a wind turbine, and its anatomy
Some basic figures
Trends: the exploitation of off-shore resources
Wind energy research at the Politecnico di Milano
Concluding remarks

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Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

How it Works

Maximum theoretical aerodynamic efficiency = 16/27 0.593 (Betz limit)


Aerodynamic efficiency in practice < 0.50

(plus mechanical and electrical losses)

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Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

Anatomy

(source: GE)

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Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

Anatomy

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Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

Gearbox-Based Configurations

(sources: reuk.co.uk, geograph.org.uk, coriolis-energy.com)

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Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

Direct-Drive Configurations

(sources: wind-energy-the-facts.org, scruss.com, windpowerengineering.com, inhabitat.com, leitwind.com)

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Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

Hybrid Concepts

(sources: wind-energy-the-facts.org, eetweb.com, machinedesign.com)

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Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

Dimensions

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Unique Aspects
Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

Some differences with respect to aeronautical applications:


Dimensions: need relatively low cost materials, large volumes
Reliability/maintenance: performance with simplicity and robustness

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Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

Where is the Wind in Europe

Forecasts of reasonable accuracy: 6% 24 h, 2.5% 2h (ISET)


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The Energy Mix


Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

Wind energy cannot have the same importance in all countries


Different countries should aim at different energy mixes, depending
on their specific natural resources
An integrated efficient network enables the management of the energy
mix within each country (time of the day/season) and across borders

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Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

Installed Wind Energy in Europe

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Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

and in the World

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Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

Growth Trend

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Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

Wind Energy Share in Europe

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Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

Where We Are wrt the 2020 Objectives

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Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

Comparison with Other Energy Sources

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Cost Comparisons
Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

(source: Vestas)

cent/kWh

External costs: due to effects on environment, CO2 emissions, health

Subsidies: 23.9 G non-renewables, 5.3 G renewables (2001, source EU)


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Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

Trends: Off-Shore Wind

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Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

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Off-Shore Wind
Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

Great potential resources

Great technological problems


(logistics, maintenance,
harsh environment)

great opportunities
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Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

Trends: Deep Waters

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Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

Some Deep Water Concepts

(source: Principle Power)

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(source: Deepwater Wind)

(source: StatoilHydro)

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Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

Wind Energy at the Politecnico di Milano

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Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

An Example: the Wind Tunnel

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The Wind Tunnel of the Politecnico


Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

Turn-table

13 m

Turbulence (boundary layer) generators


Low speed testing with
vertical wind profile
Multiple wind turbine
testing (wake-machine
interaction)

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High speed testing

POLI-Wind
Research
Lab
Aerodynamic
characterization
(Cp-TSR- & CF-TSR- curves)

Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

The First Ever Actively-Controlled


Aeroelastically-Scaled Model

Pitch actuator:
Zero backlash gearhead
Built-in encoder

Height = 1.87 m
Radius = 1m

Main shaft with


torque meter

Rotor sensor
electronics

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Torque actuator:
Planetary gearhead
Torque and speed control

Pitch actuator
electronics

Slip ring

Conical spiral gears

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Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

Concluding Remarks
Wind energy by itself does not solve the energy problem
However, it can contribute significantly, especially in some countries
Off-shore wind can alleviate some public acceptance issues (NIMBY:
Not In My Back-Yard), and allows for the exploitation of huge
available resources

From the technological point of view, there are many fascinating


problems that need to be solved (research) and opportunities for
improvement

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Wind Energy: Some Basic Facts

Further Information
European Wind Energy Association: www.ewea.org
Global Wind Energy Council: www.gwec.net

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