Module 03
Wind Power Plants
and
Geothermal Energy Conversion
By
Dr. Manish Kumar
Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
RV Institute of Technology and Management (RVITM) Bengaluru
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Module-04
Wind Power Plants: Basics of wind energy and wind turbine technology,
Types of wind turbines: horizontal axis and vertical axis; Wind resource
assessment and site selection for wind power plants, Wind farm layout
optimization and wake effects, Grid integration and power system
considerations for wind power plants
Geothermal Energy Conversion: Principle of working, types of geothermal station
with schematic diagram, geothermal plants in the world, problems associated with
geothermal conversion, scope of geothermal energy.
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Module-04
Unit-01
Wind Power Plants: Basics of wind energy and wind turbine technology, Types of
wind turbines: horizontal axis and vertical axis; Wind resource assessment and site
selection for wind power plants, Wind farm layout optimization and wake effects, Grid
integration and power system considerations for wind power plants
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When the axis of rotation is parallel to the air stream (i.e. horizontal), the turbine is said to be
a Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT),
and when it is perpendicular to the air stream (i.e. vertical), it is said to be a Vertical Axis
Wind Turbine (VAWT).
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Tip speed ratio (TSR) is the ratio of the speed of a wind turbine's blade tip to the speed of the wind
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Modern wind turbines have two or three blades. Two/three blade rotor HAWT
are also known as propeller type wind turbines owing to their similarity with
propellers of old aero planes. However, the rotor rpm in case of wind turbine is
very low as compared to that for propellers.
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Wind resource assessment and site selection for
wind power plants,
As we all know, Earth’s resources are limited, so establishing Wind power plants or solar power plants
and leveraging natural resources for energy generation has become inevitable. Over 90.76 GW of
installed electrical energy is under India as of 2024.
This makes India the fourth-largest producer of renewable energy. This says a lot about how focused the
country is on renewable energy production.
The extended demand for energy has increased the need for sustainable energy, making the correct use of
renewable sources extremely important.
As these energy sources are expanding rapidly, choosing the right sights and the right service provider
becomes very important.
This implies the importance of choosing the correct site if you want to establish wind power plants.
Choosing a good site is the first step toward successful and efficient wind power generation. 43
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all the infrastructure and systems
excluding the wind turbines
themselves, including civil works,
electrical components, access roads,
and monitoring systems, that are
necessary for the wind farm to
function.
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Wind resource assessment
Wind resource assessment and site selection for wind power plants involves evaluating wind
speed, direction, and turbulence at a potential site, and then considering factors like terrain,
infrastructure, and environmental impacts to identify the best location for a wind farm.
Wind Resource Assessment:
Data Collection:
•This involves measuring wind speed, direction, and turbulence using anemometers and wind
vanes on meteorological towers, as well as using remote sensing techniques like LiDAR and
SODAR.
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Wind resource assessment
•Data Analysis:
•Analyzing the collected data to determine the wind resource potential, including average wind
speed, wind speed frequency distribution, and wind power density.
•Long-term Data:
•Data should be collected for at least one year to calculate an annually representative wind speed
frequency distribution.
•Forecasting Models:
•Using successful forecasting models to provide useful predictions regarding the wind energy
potential for long-term development of wind farms.
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Site Selection:
•Wind Resource Potential:
•Prioritize locations with high and consistent wind speeds, which are crucial for electricity
generation.
•Topography and Geography:
•Consider areas with smooth, rounded hills, open plains, and mountain gaps, which can funnel and
intensify wind.
•Proximity to Infrastructure:
•Select locations near existing power grids and with good transportation routes for construction
and maintenance.
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•Environmental Impacts:
•Carefully assess potential environmental impacts, including impacts on wildlife and
local communities, and ensure responsible siting practices.
•Permits and Ordinances:
•Secure necessary permits and follow local ordinances for wind energy projects.
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A wake model describes how the airflow behind a
wind turbine is disturbed due to energy extraction.
When wind passes through a turbine, it slows
down and becomes more turbulent, creating a
wake effect. This can impact downstream
turbines, reducing their efficiency.
Artificial Hummingbird Optimization (AHO) is a
nature-inspired optimization algorithm that mimics
the intelligent foraging and flight behaviors of
hummingbirds. It is used to solve complex
optimization problems by simulating how
hummingbirds search for food efficiently. 58
Wind farm layout optimization and wake effects
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Wind farm layout optimization aims to maximize energy production by strategically positioning
turbines to minimize wake effects, which are the reduced wind speed and increased turbulence
behind a turbine.
Wake Effects and Their Impact:
•Reduced Wind Speed:
•Turbines create a wake, a trail of slower wind, which negatively impacts the power output of downstream
turbines.
•Increased Turbulence:
•Wakes also increase turbulence, potentially leading to higher fatigue loads on turbines and structural damage.
•Power Loss:
•Wake effects can lead to significant power losses in wind farms, potentially reducing overall energy production
by 10-20%. 60
Wind Farm Layout Optimization (WFLO):
•Objective:
•WFLO aims to find the optimal turbine placement within a wind
farm to minimize wake effects and maximize energy yield.
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•Methods:
•Optimization Algorithms: Various algorithms, including genetic algorithms, particle swarm
optimization, and ant colony optimization, are used to find optimal turbine positions.
•Wake Models: Wake models, such as Jensen's model, are used to simulate the wake effects and
assess the impact of different layouts.
•Objective Functions: Objective functions are used to evaluate the performance of different
layouts, often focusing on maximizing energy production and minimizing wake effects.
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•Considerations:
•Turbine Spacing: Turbines are typically placed in rows, with distances between turbines
in a row and between rows influencing wake effects.
•Terrain: Terrain can influence wind flow and wake patterns, affecting optimal turbine
placement.
•Wind Conditions: Wind speed and direction variability need to be considered during
optimization.
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•Benefits:
•Increased Energy Yield: Optimized layouts can lead to a significant increase in energy
production.
•Reduced Costs: Optimized layouts can help reduce the initial investment and operational costs
of wind farms.
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•Improved Reliability: Optimized layouts can lead to more uniform wake effects across the wind
farm, improving the operational stability of all turbines.
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Grid integration and power system considerations for wind power plants
Integrating wind power plants into the grid presents challenges due to wind's variability and
intermittency, impacting grid stability, power quality, and system security, but also offers
benefits like reduced emissions and cost-effective energy
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1. Challenges of Grid Integration:
•Intermittency and Variability:
•Wind power generation fluctuates with wind speed, making it difficult to balance supply and demand and
potentially causing frequency deviations and voltage fluctuations.
•Grid Stability:
•The variable nature of wind power can impact grid stability, requiring robust grid codes, advanced control
systems, and potentially energy storage solutions.
•Power Quality:
•Wind power integration can lead to issues like harmonic distortion and voltage fluctuations, requiring careful
design and operation of wind farms and grid infrastructure.
•System Security:
•The unpredictable nature of wind power can pose challenges to grid security, requiring reliable forecasting,
flexible grid operations, and potentially backup generation.
•Infrastructure Upgrades:
•Integrating large-scale wind power may necessitate upgrades to the existing grid infrastructure, including
transmission lines, substations, and control systems.
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2. Solutions and Mitigation Strategies:
•Energy Storage Systems (ESS):
•Batteries and other ESS can store excess energy during periods of high wind and release it during
low-wind periods, improving grid stability and reliability.
•Advanced Forecasting:
•Accurate wind power forecasting is crucial for grid planning and operation, enabling better balancing
of supply and demand.
•Flexible Grid Operations:
•Implementing flexible grid operations, such as demand response programs and dynamic dispatch, can
help manage the variability of wind power.
•Grid Codes and Standards:
•Robust grid codes and standards are essential for ensuring the reliable and stable operation of wind
power plants and their integration into the grid.
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•Reactive Power Support:
•Wind turbines can be equipped with reactive power control capabilities to maintain voltage
stability and support grid operation.
•Fault Ride-Through Capability:
•Wind turbines should be designed to remain connected to the grid during fault conditions,
contributing to grid stability and reliability.
•Hybrid Frequency Control Methods:
•Combining various frequency control strategies with or without ESS can enhance grid stability and
reliability.
•Technological Advancements:
•Continuous innovation in wind turbine technology, grid infrastructure, and control systems is
crucial for improving wind power integration. 70
THANK YOU
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