Controller Boosts Small-Scale Wind Generator Output

Professor Andy Knight of the University of Alberta and his colleagues have developed a simple, reliable controller for small-scale wind turbines that is cheaper than competing technologies. A study of wind conditions at the Edmonton Airport indicated that the controller could increases the output by 50% over a three month period. This is accomplished by capturing energy when the wind is blowing at speeds below that necessary to generate enough voltage to be used with the conventional controllers used with small wind turbines. The low cost open loop control system can convert the low voltage energy into power even when winds fall below cut off speeds of normal systems.  The controller can be built with a few, simple electronic components that are cheap and easy to find, use and repair. 

Generally, current small-scale wind energy generators require wind speeds of at least 18 km/h (11 mph) to generate any power, but Knight's device could be used in low wind environments, such as the Edmonton, Alberta area, where the average wind is 10 km/h (6 mph). On an average wind speed day a typical small generators can now produce about 5 kWhr per day but with this controller could produce an average of 7.5 kWhr.  Controllers for large-scale wind turbines have this capability, but here-to-for this technology has not been economically available for small wind turbines.

Although Knight and his colleagues have not yet built anything that is ready to sell, they have designed and tested a generator that they are further improving before they apply for a patent and possibly bring it to market.

Resources:

"Researchers make advances in wind energy generation", Express News, University of Alberta, July 13, 2005
Fueling the Future, Kristin Roth, Popular Mechanics.com, October 2005

More blogs about wind, wind power, alternative energy, renewable, renewable energy, energy

Comments

[JesseJenkins]

Great news. Props to the Prof. Andy Knight and the Univ. of Alberta! I can't wait to see these on the shelves...

[Mark Leiterman]

Sounds great. I have a homebuilt wind generator ready to go. It's in the back yard (Fort Saskatchewan) test bay now and I will be mounting it up higher in the next few days. If you need to test out your product, I'm in the market for just that sort of thing right now. I am not a business, This is just a hobby for me.

Thanks

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