This book provides the fundamental concepts required for the development of an efficient small-scale wind turbine. For centuries, engineers and scientists have used wind turbines of all shapes and sizes to harvest wind energy. Large-scale wind turbines have been successful at producing great amounts of power when deployed in sites with vast, open space, such as in fi elds or in offshore waters. For environments with limited space, such as dense urban environments, small-scale wind turbines are an attractive alternative for taking advantage of the ubiquity of wind. However, many of today's tools for aerodynamic design and analysis were originally developed for large-scale turbines and do not scale down to these smaller devices. Arranged in a systematic and comprehensive manner, complete with supporting examples, Wind Energy Harvesting: Micro- To Small-Scale Turbines is a useful reference for undergraduate and graduate level classes on energy harvesting, sustainable energy, and fl uid dynamics, and an introduction to the field for non-technical readers.

Autorentext

Ravi Kishore, Colin Stewart and Shashank Priya, VA Tech, Blacksburg, USA.

Inhalt

1. Introduction
Current State of Wind Energy
Energy Policies for Wind Energy

2. Background on Wind Turbines
Large vs. Small Scale Wind Turbines
Need for Small Scale Wind Turbines
Challenges with Small Scale Wind Turbine Design

3. Components of Small Scale Wind Turbine
Rotor
Drive Train
Generator
Auxiliary Components

4. Betz and Schmitz Law for Wind Power Prediction
Betz Law
Blade Losses
Schmitz Law and Rotational Wake

5. Small Scale Wind Turbine Blade Design
Blade Element Momentum Theory
Development of Design Tool using BEM Theory
Use of Computational Fluid Dynamics in Rotor design

6. Diffuser Augmented Small Scale Wind Turbine
Need for Diffuser Augmented Small Scale Wind Turbine
Flow inside the Diffuser
Diffuser Design Optimization
Pros and Cons

7. Application Areas of Small Scale Wind Turbines
Bridge Health Monitoring System
Carry-on Wind Mills
Remote Applications

8. Non-Conventional Wind Energy Harvesters
Vibration based Wind Energy Harvesters
Piezoelectric Wind Turbine
Some Other Examples