A Control Concept For Wind Diesel Systems

This book provides for the first time in a single volume the collective knowledge of many leading researchers on state-of-the-art wind-diesel technology. It contains the results and advice of nineteen experts from ten different countries, and has been carefully edited to provide a coherent reference volume. This book is the result of a five-year study by a group of experts working on the development of wind-diesel technology under the auspices of the International Energy Agency. The formal, technical aims of this project were as follows: to define cost-effective models and techniques for obtaining wind and load data necessary for planning; to specify decentralised wind-energy conversion system installations; to apply and further develop models suitable for analysing the performance of wind-diesel systems; and to obtain a sound analytical basis for planning and designing wind-diesel systems.

For remote power systems using a combination of wind energy and diesel power, large storage batteries may be used to reduce diesel fuel consumption. In order to assess the feasibility of incorporating storage batteries, potential savings in fuel costs must be weighed against the capital equipment costs associated with the storage system. In such a cost-benefit analysis, the dispatch strategy used to control the system is critical in determining the amount of cost savings, and hence the feasibility of storage. This thesis is a study of various control strategies that may be used in the dispatch of stored wind energy in a remote wind/diesel power system. A theoretical ideal dispatch strategy is presented as a means of determining the maximum savings possible. Several simple dispatch strategies are discussed. A fuzzy discharge controller that uses battery state of charge and wind speed forecasts to optimize battery discharge is presented. Computer simulations are used to evaluate the performance of the various control strategies, and results are compared. A case study of a typical small wind/diesel system is presented. It is shown that the reductions in operating costs achieved by using storage can be significantly increased using the fuzzy discharge controller. The role of wind speed prediction is examined and practical implementation issues are addressed. Implications for the general feasibility of large-scale storage are discussed.

Wind diesel power systems (WDPSs) are isolated microgrids that combine diesel generators (DGs) with wind turbine generators (WTGs). Often, WDPS are the result of adding WTGs to a previous existing diesel power plant located in a remote place where there is an available wind resource. By means of power supplied by WTGs, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are reduced. WDPSs are isolated power systems with low inertia where important system frequency and voltage variations occur. WDPS dynamic modeling and simulation allows short-term simulations to be carried out to obtain detailed electrical variable transients so that WDPS stability and power quality can be tested. This book includes papers on several subjects regarding WDPSs: the main topic of interest is WDPS dynamic modeling and simulation, but related areas such as the sizing of the different WDPS components, studies concerning the control of WDPSs or the use of energy storage systems (ESSs) in WDPSs and the benefits that ESSs provide to WDPS are also discussed. The book also deals with related AC isolated microgrids, such as wind-hydro microgrids or wind-photovoltaic-diesel microgrids.

As the human population expands and natural resources become depleted, it becomes necessary to explore other sources for energy consumption and usage. Renewable and Alternative Energy: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications provides a comprehensive overview of emerging perspectives and innovations for alternative energy sources. Highlighting relevant concepts on energy efficiency, current technologies, and ongoing industry trends, this is an ideal reference source for academics, practitioners, professionals, and upper-level students interested in the latest research on renewable energy.