Performance Testing and Control of a Small Wind Energy Converter

Responding to more demand in coming years, the task of the small wind energy industry requires progress on several fronts-from public policy initiatives, to technology development, to market growth. Enhanced technologies such as contra-rotating blades, transmission systems, lubrication, airfoils, generators, and power electronics will lower cost and increase energy production. This paper mainly considers two key technological points of a small wind energy converter (SWEC) namely, the performance of the rotor system and induction generator. Small-scale prototypes have been built to experimentally verify the performance of the SWEC. Wind tunnel tests of the power output, power coefficient, and turbine speed were carried out to ascertain the aerodynamic power conversion and the operation capability at lower wind speeds. The results demonstrated a significant increase in performance compared to a single-rotor system of the same type. Another aspect of development and test is to present a comparative performance evaluation between a standard induction generator and an efficient but with modified design (TRIAS Generator) as a realistic solution of clean power for grid-connected SWECs. The paper also discusses issues related to control and monitoring of SWEC.