chapter 4, Commercial Wind Turbine Systems and Applications

from: Wind Turbine Technology: Fundamental Concepts in Wind Turbine Engineering, Second Edition, Second

Editor(s): David A. Spera

Published: 2009

Author(s)/Editor(s): Larry A. Viterna, Daniel F. Ancona III

Chapter DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/1.802601.ch4

Chapter Page Count: 77 pages

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Front Matter

1. Historical Development of the Windmill

2. Introduction to Modern Wind Turbines

3A. Evolution of Modern Wind Turbines Part A: 1940 to 1994

3B. Evolution of Modern Wind Turbines Part B: 1988 to 2008

4. Commercial Wind Turbine Systems and Applications

5A. Wind Turbine Aerodynamics Part A: Basic Principles

5B. Wind Turbine Aerodynamics Part B: Turbine Blade Flow Fields

6. Wind Turbine Airfoils and Rotor Wakes

7. Wind Turbine Acoustics

8. Characteristics of the Wind

9. Electromagnetic Interference from Wind Turbines

10. Structural Dynamic Considerations in Wind Turbine Design

11. Structural Dynamic Behavior of Wind Turbines

12. Fatigue Design of Wind Turbines

13. A Utility Perspective of Wind Energy

14. Wind Turbine Control Systems

Back Matter

Preview

Chapter Contents

Introduction
Large-Scale Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbines
Medium-Scale Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbines
Small-Scale Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbines
Subsystems for Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines
Water-Pumping Wind Turbines
Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines
Early Commercial Wind Turbine Installations
Commercial Wind Power Applications
Wind Power Stations on Utility Grids
Distributed Wind Turbines on Utility Grids
Wind Turbines on Isolated or Utility Mini-Grids
Stand-Alone Wind Turbine Applications
Factors Affecting the Market for Wind Turbines
Wind Power Station Costs
Wind Turbine Operation and Maintenance
Governmental and Business Environments Affecting Wind Power Development
Offshore Installations
References

Excerpt

This chapter describes commercial wind turbine systems in the U.S. and other countries, including their application for generating electrical energy as well water pumping. Commercial wind systems, as defined here, include production turbines as well as pre-production turbines that could be manufactured commercially within the next five years. Although the history of wind system development was discussed in the previous chapters, some historical details will be introduced here as well, when they help describe the development of commercial markets and products. This discussion of commercial systems and applications considers large-, medium-, and small-scale horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs), and also reviews vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs).

Wind power applications described include wind power stations delivering electricity on utility grids, distributed (dispersed) turbines on utility grids, turbines on isolated and∕or small electrical grid systems, and stand-alone units for mechanical and electrical power. Trends in cost of energy (COE) from wind systems in various applications are also discussed. Operation and maintenance (O&M) requirements for current systems are included that reflect the commercial experience, including typical maintenance scenarios, associated costs, and trends within the industry.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/1.802601.ch4