This document discusses wind power plants and wind energy. It explains that wind is a free, clean and renewable energy source. It then discusses the origin of global and local winds. Some key factors that affect wind energy distribution on Earth's surface are discussed, such as mountains, trees, and climate changes. The document outlines important considerations for selecting wind plant sites, such as wind speed data, access roads, terrain and population density. It also classifies wind power plants based on axis orientation and size. Environmental impacts of wind plants are summarized, including effects on birds, noise, communications and ecosystem stresses.

1. Prepared By-
Mr.Premanand Desai LECTURER /EE
B.L.D.E. Association’s
Shree sanganabasava Maha swamiji
Polytechnic,Vijayapur-03
Cell No:+917892881829
E-Mail-ID:premananddesai@gmail.com

2. UNIT-04
Wind Power Plant
course outcome : 04
Explain Wind energy and wind turbines, wind types, site
selection, and environment impacts.

3. Importance of wind energy
• The wind is a free, clean and inexhaustible energy source.
• It is one of the most environment friendly and economically
viable source of energy.
• In general over the land area of earth , the wind energy
generated is about 1.65×105 Kwh.
• In hilly and coastal areas, the average wind speed is greater than
that in land.
• The wind speed increases with increase in height. Because as
height increases, the dragging effect of the earths surface
reduces.

4. Origin of Global and Local winds
• Sources of winds are as follows:
(a) Local winds
(b)Global or planetary winds.

5. Local winds
• Such winds are produced due to uneven heating and cooling of
ground surface, ocean ,lake , river surface etc.
• During day time cool and heavy air move from water surface to
ground surface. At night period, exactly opposite direction of wind
is observed , as the ground surface cools down earlier than the
water surface.

6. Global or planetary winds.
• Such winds are produce due to the daily earths
rotation as well as unequal temperatures at polar
and equatorial regions. As the earth rotates about
its axis, Coriolis force is produced.
• Cold wind flows from the polar to equatorial
region. At the same time , wind near ocean is
cooler than that near plain area. Hence cold wind
moves from oceans to plain areas.

7. Factors to be considered for site selection
(i) Availability of anemometry data - Superior wind speed(20 to
25km/h).
(ii) Availability of wind curve at the proposed site
(iii) Good road/ rail access to sites.
(iv) Suitable terrain and geology for onsite access for strong
foundation of tower
(v) Low population density .
(vi) Minimum risk of agro-forestry operations.

8. (vii) Close to suitable electrical grid or load center.
(viii) Supportive land holders.
(ix) Privately owned free hold land.
(x) Good industrial support for construction and
ongoing operations .
(Xi) Icing problem ,salt spray or blowing dust
should not be present at the site as they affect
turbine blades.

9. Factors affecting distribution of wind energy on surface of the earth
I. Because of continuous chain or line of the tall mountains, the air
gets channelized.
II. Because of the obstacles like the hills, tall buildings , tall trees the
direction of the air flow that is wind changes considerably.
III. Because of disturbance in climate after rains ,the wind speed gets
affected.
IV. Topographical abnormalities such as mountain gaps etc. affect
wind speed significantly.
V. The wind speed gets affected by frictional effect of the surface.

10. classification of wind power plant
A.Based on axis : i).Horizontal axis .
ii).Vertical axis
B. According to size (capacity):
i) small (up to 2KW).
ii) Medium size (2-100KW)
iii) Large size (above 100 KW)
C. Based on output power :
i) D.C output
ii) A.C output

11. Nature of winds
• The wind varies from one place to another.
• The nature of wind depends on general climatic conditions near
and around region, physical geometrical conditions at the region.
• The intensity of wind energy can be determine using beaufort
number.
• Beaufort number and corresponding wind speeds as below :
Beaufort number Wind type Wind speed (m/s)
1 More light 0.4-1.8
2 Less light 1.6-3.6
4 Moderate 5.8-6.5
10 Strong 25-29

13. Construction of horizontal axis wind turbine generator

17. Horizontal axis wind turbine is commonly used type
wind turbine. In this turbine shaft is mounted
horizontally parallel to the ground. All the components
are mounted on a tower of about 80 meter height.
Nacelle of Wind Turbine : Nacelle is big box that sits on
the tower and house all the components in a wind
turbine. It houses Power Converter, Shaft, Gearbox,
Generator, Turbine controller, Cables, Yaw drive
Rotor blades : they capture wind energy and converted
into mechanical energy of shaft.

18. Shaft : transfer rotational energy to generator.
Gear box : Increase the speed of the turbine shaft
from 30 to 60 rpm so that it matches with generator
speed of about 1000 to 1800rpm.
Electronic controller : senses wind speed wind
direction and controls the yaw mechanism. Its also
gives signals to the breaks to shutdown the turbine
in case of malfunction.

19. Breaks : stops the rotation of shaft in case of over
load or system failure.
Yaw mechanism : moves the rotor to align with
direction of wind to capture maximum wind energy.
Generator : converts rotational energy of shaft into
electrical energy.
Tower : supports entire setup at the higher
elevation so that blades can freely rotate away from
the ground.

20. Anemometer :It measures the wind speed and passes the speed
information to PLC to control the turbine power
Pitch Drive (pitch control) : Pitch drive motors control the angle of
blades whenever wind changes it rotates the angle of blades to cut
the maximum wind, which is called pitching of blades.
Yaw Drive (Yaw control): Blades and other components in wind
turbine is housed in Nacelle , whenever any change in wind direction
is there Nacelle has to move in the direction of wind to extract the
maximum energy from wind. For this purpose yaw drive motor are
used to rotate the nacelle .It is controlled by PLC that uses the wind
vane information to sense the wind direction

21. Construction of vertical axis wind turbine generator

22. Vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT)
A type of wind turbine in which the axis of
rotation is perpendicular to the wind stream and
the ground. As the rotor surface in this type of
turbine moves in the same direction as of the
wind , they are called cross-wind axis rotor.
Types of vertical axis wind turbines
1. Darrieus turbine , 2. Savonius turbine.

23. • As the vertical axis turbine does not requires to be
pointed into the wind, these type of turbines are used
in the plants where wind changes direction
significantly.
• In this type of turbine, the tower is not essential as the
gearbox and generator can be placed near ground as
shown in the Fig.
• The main advantage is that maintenance is very easy.
• The overall efficiency of vertical axis turbine is
significantly less than that of horizontal axis turbine.

25. Comparison between horizontal axis and vertical axis wind turbine generator
Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine
Generator
Vertical Axis Wind Turbine
Generator
1. Axis of rotation is parallel to the
ground and wind stream.
1. The axis of rotation is perpendicular
to the ground and wind stream.
2. More output energy. 2. Less output energy
3. Always face the wind. 3. Always against the wind.
4. More stress on base of the blades. 4. More stress is a center of the blades.
5. Requires more structural support. 5. Requires less structural support.
6. Selection of site is easy. 6. Selection of site is difficult.
7. Installation and maintenance is difficult. 7. Installation and maintenance is easy.
8. Overall efficiency is more. 8. Overall efficiency is less.

26. Environmental Impact of wind Plant.
• Birds life : There is a danger of injury or death to
the birds because of rotating blades.
• Noise : The rotating blades, Produce high sound
level, noise which is many time unbearable.
• Commutation signals :The wind turbine can
interfere RF, Microwave , communication signals.
• Safety : The rotating blades may cause harm and
injury when any of these blades may break or get
damaging specially during high wind condition.
• Visual intrusion : wind turbine with their high
towers are visible over a wide area , thereby
disturbing the natural beauty of a site.

27. • Impact in ecosystem : large scale use of wind
generation can reduce wind speed and cause
stress to an ecosystem . Lakes that are down
will from the wind turbine might become
warmer because of reduced, evaporation from
their surface.
• Indirect entry use and emission : There is no
pollution or emission of carbon dioxide during
operation of wind turbine. But energy is
required to produce material used to construct
the wind turbine and its installation.

28. MODEL QUESTIONS BANK
Cognitive Level: UNDERSTAND
1. Explain the origin of Global and local winds.
2. List Factors affecting distribution of wind energy on surface of the
earth.
3. Explain with neat sketches the Nature of winds.
4. List the factors to be considered for site selection.
5. List the classification of wind power plant based on plant capacity
& wind turbine Generator.
6. List the Comparison between horizontal axis and vertical axis wind
turbine generator.
Cognitive Level: APPLICATION
1. Explain the Importance of Wind Energy.
2. Explain the Construction of horizontal axis wind turbine generator
with diagram.
3. Explain the Construction of vertical wind turbine generator with
diagram.
4. Explain Environmental Impact of wind.

29. course outcome : 04
Explain Wind energy and wind turbines, wind
types, site selection, and environment impacts.