1.1 Introduction
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into more useful forms, usually electricity using wind turbines. This wind in question has played a long and important role in the history of human civilization and is the world fastest growing energy technology, when flowing wind is captured and is turned into electricity and this process is called Hybrid Wind System Or Wind Generated Power. Turbine and generator coverts the energy into electricity which can be used in isolation or fed into the electrical grid to be used in homes, farms, business and by industries.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Most modern wind power is generated in the form of electricity by converting the rotation of turbine blades into electrical current by means of an electrical generator. In windmills (a much older technology) wind energy is used to turn mechanical machinery to do physical work, like crushing grain or pumping water. In 2005, worldwide capacity of wind-powered generators was 58,982 megawatts, their production making up less than 1% of world-wide electricity use. Although still a relatively minor source of electricity for most countries, it accounts for 23% of electricity use in Denmark, 4.3% in Germany and around 8% in Spain. Globally, wind power generation more than quadrupled between 1999 and 2005.
Wind power is used in large scale wind farms for national electrical grids as well as in small individual turbines for providing electricity in isolated locations. Wind energy is abundant, renewable, widely distributed, cleans, and mitigates the greenhouse effect if it is used to replace fossil-fuel-derived electricity.
Since ancient times, people have harnessed the winds and energy. Over 5,000 years ago, the ancient Egyptians used wind to sail ships on the Nile River. Later, people built wind mills to grind wheat and other grains. The earliest known wind mills were in Persia. These early wind mills looked like large paddle wheels. Centuries later, the basic design of the wind mills was improved. It was given a propeller type blade. The evolution has been slow but continuous, with two major phases. The first in which wind energy was directly use for mechanical work, as in windmills, sawmills, water lifting etc. and a second phase in which mechanical energy was changed into electrical energy.
Since their first appearance, it has undergone many changes and improvements in their major components. For instance, the major structure varied from wood frames to more stable masonry works and subsequently to steel frames.
The interest here is on manufacturing system of which my goal will be looking at wind as a means to effective power generation and system integration given a complete program activities addressing electric power market rules. As the search for energy is now probing the realm of the wind and the sun, human beings are sure to get a lasting solution to electricity problem. In using energy to produce mechanical work, humans, since the beginning of civilization, have focused their attention on those forces found explicit in nature. Animal, hydraulic, and wind energy did not require transformation into other energy types.
Instead, the use of such energy type necessitated the invention of mechanisms whose complexity has constantly increased with the progress of technology. In particular, since ancient times, the kinetic energy of the wind has been used to propel ships and machines, such as windmill that proceeded the industrial age. The wind power has been used for the production of electricity itself, but in small scale. However, because of worldwide energy crisis, wind energy once again is being studied for large-scale application, along with other sources neglected. In the utilization of the wind or other natural energy forms, the unlimited potentials of the source must be recognized in contraposition to the limited supply of fossil fuel presently used.
Solar energy, which generates the wind is considered unlimited. The relationship between the dynamic force in the wind and solar radiation is direct. Another major characteristic of wind energy is the absence of any form of pollution, either in its direct utilization for the production of mechanical work or in its transformation into electrical energy. Yet, despite such positive factors, wind energy was neglected until a few years ago. An estimate 1% to 3% of energy from the sun that hit the earth is converted into wind energy.
Most of this energy can be found at high altitude where continuous wind speeds over 160km/h (100mph) occur. This wind energy is converted through friction into diffuse heat throughout the earth’s surface and the atmosphere.
The wind power estimated apply to areas free to local obstruction to wind terrain features that are well exposed to wind such as open plains, table/and hilltops, Exposed coastal areas are also rice potentials for wind application.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Wind turbines have the main rotor shaft and electrical generator at the top of a tower, and must be pointed into the wind. Most have a gearbox, which turns the slow rotation of the blades into a quicker rotation that is more suitable to drive an electrical generator.
Since a tower produces turbulence behind it, the turbine is usually pointed upwind of the tower. Turbine blades are made stiff to prevent the blades from being pushed into the tower by high winds. Additionally, the blades are placed a considerable distance in front of the tower and are sometimes tilted up a small amount.
Downwind machines have been built, despite the problem of turbulence, because they don't need an additional mechanism for keeping them in line with the wind, and because in high winds the blades can be allowed to bend which reduces their swept area and thus their wind resistance. Since cyclic (that is repetitive) turbulence may lead to fatigue failures most WTs are upwind machines.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the research work is to assess the wind powered turbine generation. In achieving this aim, the following objectives were set out as follows;
- To determine the principle of a Double Fed Induction Generator connected to a wind turbine
- To examine the Power Electronics Applications In Wind Energy Conversion System
- To analysis the Wind Variability and Turbine Power of wind powered tuebine generation
- To examine the Steady-State and Transient Voltage Stability Analysis of the system
- To assess the direct and indirect Grid Connection of Wind Turbines
1.5 Scope of Study
This study focuses on the assessment of wind powered turbine generation.
1.6 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this institution to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials.
1.7 Significance of Study
The PHCN can as well use it to serve its customer be it commercial or residential load. It is because of this aggressive search that in this paper discusses the various methods of converting wind energy to electrical energy. The places it is obtainable and how it can be best used to achieve maximum result in Nigeria.
This study, when completed, will serve as reference material for subsequent researcher in the field or related topics.
