Study and Selection of Parameters of an Automatically Controlled Wind Power Station With Swaying Sails

Abstract

Related to the use of the traditional energy sources, environmental pollution and global warming are the reasons of the growing interest to the development of the renewable energy, and in particular, wind energy. Wind energy development includes solving the problem of increasing efficiency of wind energy conversion and expending the territory of wind power stations (WPS) spread. Unfortunately, the existing mainly turbine WPS are located only at the territories with strong winds, as their efficiency dramatically decreases with the decrease (below 10 m/s) of the wind speed. This article studies a new sail wind power station with low capacity that allows effective conversion of the wind energy and expansion of the territory of the WPS use due to the possibility to effectively generate electric current with the wind speed of 2.5 m/s and higher. This possibility is achieved due to automated control of the sail surface area having toroidal shape, and due to the use of controlled damping system consisting of the parallel manipulator. We have carried out experimental and computer studies of aerodynamic features of different sails; according to the results of these studies we have chosen the toroidal shape and profile of the sail section. To confirm the functional capabilities of the new WPS, we have created the demonstration model. The work forms the mathematical apparatus that allow calculating and selecting the main parameters of the sail WPS. The offered sail wind power station due to its capabilities in efficient energy conversion can significantly expand the application field of the wind sources of renewable energy