It is used to study how kinetic wind energy is converted into electrical energy.
The experimental plant consists of a wind tunnel and a control unit. The wind tunnel contains a wind power plant in laboratory-scale and an axial fan. A rotor and a generator are the core elements of a wind power plant. The control unit includes the control elements for the axial fan, the storage components for the electrical energy and the electrical consumers.
The axial fan generates the air flow required to set the rotor of the wind power plant in rotational motion. A flow straightener ensures the flow is consistent and low in turbulence. A generator converts the rotor’s kinetic energy into electrical energy. The electrical energy is fed into a stand-alone system that is not connected to the mains grid. A charge controller in an accumulator provides intermediate storage of the electrical energy. The electrical energy can be used by means of an electrical load. There are two bulbs that can be used as consumers. Optionally, it is also possible to connect an external consumer (such as a heater). There is no provision to feed into a public power grid.
Learning Objectives And Experiments
- Conversion of kinetic wind energy into electrical energy
- Function and design of an stand-alone system with a wind power plant
- Determining the power coefficient as a function of tip speed ratio
- Energy balance in a wind power plant
- Determining the efficiency of a wind power plant
Specification
- Converting kinetic wind energy into electrical energy
- Laboratory-scale wind power plant, stand-alone operation
- Axial fan with continuously variable speed (wind velocity)
- Flow straightener for consistent wind conditions
- Generator for converting the kinetic energy into electrical energy
- Accumulator for storing the electrical energy
- Two bulbs as electrical load (consumers)
- Measurement of wind velocity in front of and behind the rotor
- Measurement of rotational speed of the rotor
- Measurement of current and voltage
- Digital displays for the measured values
Technical Specification
- Axial fan
- Max. Volumetric flow rate: 5m3/s
- Max. Power: 1,5kw
- Rotor
- Ø 510mm
- Generator
- Max. Output: 60W
- Voltage: 12VDC
- Max. Charging current: 5A
- Accumulator
- Voltage: 12VDC
- Capacity: 8Ah
- Electrical load (bulbs)
- Voltage: 12VDC
- Power: 55W each
- Measuring ranges
- Wind velocity: 0,3…50m/s
- Speed: 0…3000min-1
- Voltage: 0…20VDC
- Current: 0…35A
- 400V, 50Hz, 3 phases
- 400V, 60Hz, 3 phases; 230V, 60Hz, 3 phases
