ENGR-1020

 WIND POWER READING ASSIGNMENT-3

 Open the Website www.windpower.org/en/tour.htm.

Read sections Generators and Turbine Design? of the “Guide Tour on Wind Energy”.

Using Microsoft Word, type the answers to the topic questions. Note, the answer to each question can be found one sub-topic section.

 QUESTIONS

 Generators

1. Why are wind turbines different than non-wind turbines?
2. Why are permanent magnet synchronous generators not used very much?
3. What is meant by synchronous speed and does that apply to induction generators?
4. When a turbine is connected to the grid, what is the benefit of doubling the number of stator magnets?
5. What is generator slip?
6. What is one of the most important reasons for using an asynchronous generator rather than a synchronous generator on a wind turbine which is directly connected to the electrical grid?
7. What are the benefits of running a dual generator system?
8. What solutions are available for induction generators to ovoid slip rings, brushes and external resistors?
9. What are the advantages of an indirect grid connection and a variable speed generator?
10. What the advantages of using a gear box for a wind turbine?
11. What do the electronic controllers of a wind turbine do?
12. What monitors the power quality?

 Turbine Design

1. Why are modern wind turbines not built with a lot of rotor blades, like the old "American" windmills you have seen in the Western movies?
2. What must turbine manufacturers have to certify over 50 years?
3. What are the advantages of a VAWT?
4. What are the disadvantages of a VAWT?
5. What are advantages of a upwind machine?
6. What are advantages of a downwind machine?
7. What is the disadvantage of an even number blade machine?
8. What determines the ideal wind turbine design?
9. What contributes to wind turbine noise?
10. What is the fifth power law?