- Category: Articles
 
A Wind Turbine Station Designed to Capture Vertical ‘Winds’
The atmospheric vortex engine is a new concept for a renewable energy generation process that is capable of generating electricity from solar radiation and the atmosphere. The process has strong similarities to other existing renewable energy generation technologies (the solar chimney and wind turbines). The concept involves creation of a controlled vortex, allowing the energy from the atmosphere to be converted into mechanical work, which can be captured by turbines and converted into electricity. Additional development is required before constructing a full-scale vortex power plant, but the process has the potential to generate large amounts of renewable energy.By Eric Michaud and Louis Michaud, Vortex Engine, Canada
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        - Category: Articles
 
The Beamforming Technique in Acoustic Imaging
Thanks to the evolution of both computer and electronic science it is now possible (and easy) to use the acoustic imagery technique to investigate the noise behaviour of a wind turbine under operation. This article introduces the beamforming technique used in acoustic imagery for noise problem troubleshooting. It describes the parameters that are used to produce accurate acoustic images to locate the noise source of interest. Non-stationary noise sources, fast transient events and also mobile noise sources are all easily located with the technique.By Vincent Benoit, ACB Engineering, France
- Category: Articles
 
Multiple Use of Space
The Netherlands has a high potential for using wind turbine generators (WTGs) to produce electricity. Unfortunately, the Netherlands also has a chronic lack of free, open spaces and the major problem is finding suitable locations to erect these symbols of Dutch ingenuity. Where in the Netherlands are locations to be found to accommodate the large, multi-megawatt wind generators while taking into consideration the environment, the neighbourhood and the neighbours? WinWind (Netherlands) has come up with a unique answer, the Railwind turbine.
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The Netherlands has a high potential for using wind turbine generators (WTGs) to produce electricity. Unfortunately, the Netherlands also has a chronic lack of free, open spaces and the major problem is finding suitable locations to erect these symbols of Dutch ingenuity. Where in the Netherlands are locations to be found to accommodate the large, multi-megawatt wind generators while taking into consideration the environment, the neighbourhood and the neighbours? WinWind (Netherlands) has come up with a unique answer, the Railwind turbine.- Category: Articles
 
Not as Expensive or Exclusive as Perceived
Is computational fluid dynamics (CFD) the preserve of the major wind energy providers? The ability to test full-scale prototypes and evaluate potential wind farm locations should make computer simulation an invaluable tool for all players in the wind energy industry, but has CFD overcome limitations of speed, accuracy and cost? A CFD consultancy firm born out of the Formula 1 racing environment seeks to provide some answers.By Jo Scott, Project Team Leader, Advantage CFD, UK
- Category: Articles
 
Design and other considerations
Typhoons can cause significant damage to wind turbines, and this brings new problems for wind turbine design, especially the design of blades. This article describes what happened at a wind farm that suffered typhoon damage and a stop in operation of the wind turbines. The author undertook analysis of the available data and provides a discussion about the phenomena of the accident, the cause of the accident and the protective measures. As a result, the article brings forward some issues that fellow designers need to consider.
By Wu Ming Yu, Xinjiang Wind Energy Liability Co Ltd, China
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Typhoons can cause significant damage to wind turbines, and this brings new problems for wind turbine design, especially the design of blades. This article describes what happened at a wind farm that suffered typhoon damage and a stop in operation of the wind turbines. The author undertook analysis of the available data and provides a discussion about the phenomena of the accident, the cause of the accident and the protective measures. As a result, the article brings forward some issues that fellow designers need to consider.- Category: Articles
 
Challenges and Opportunities
The evolution of wind farms from land-based to offshore locations is gradual but surely significant. Stronger winds, better technologies and less impact on real estate value make offshore wind farming the ‘sexiest’ side of this industry in its attempts to meet the high electricity demands of heavily populated coastal areas.
By Joe Meilak, Innovaxin Consulting, Malta
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The evolution of wind farms from land-based to offshore locations is gradual but surely significant. Stronger winds, better technologies and less impact on real estate value make offshore wind farming the ‘sexiest’ side of this industry in its attempts to meet the high electricity demands of heavily populated coastal areas.By Joe Meilak, Innovaxin Consulting, Malta
- Economics of Intermittent Wind Generation
 - The Aeolus Project
 - A New Control Concept for Offshore Wind Farms
 - Offshore Potential in Japan
 - The Concrete Gravity Concept
 - Trends in Rotor Blade Design
 - Renewable Connections on the Web
 - Small Wind Turbines for Rural Areas
 - How Reliable is Torque?
 - Certification of Power Generation Characteristics
 - Impact of Hourly Wind Power Variations
 - Offshore Landing Systems
 - Floating, Tilting, Multi-Rotor Turbines
 - Bird Detection Radar
 - Planetary Gearboxes Help Alternative Energy
 - Offshore Wind Farm Investigations
 - Wind-Diesel Systems in Developing Countries
 - The HiMast Development Programme
 - Measuring Offshore Wind Vectors from Space
 - Wind Energy Resource Map of State of Paraná, Brazil
 - Optimising Wind Energy Capture
 - Safety and Fire Behaviour
 - Improving Bankability of Wind Power Projects
 - Offshore Wind Turbine Foundations
 - Wind Speed at Light Speed
 - New Zealand’s Winds Harnessed
 - Offshore Wind Farm Construction
 - Comparing Models for Energy Output Estimation
 - Sensors for Today’s Turbines
 - Lubricant and Debris Analysis for Wind Turbines
 
            
                
                


  
                
                