Alternative Energy in Power Electronics

Chapter 4

Wind Turbine Applications

Juan M. Carrasco; Eduardo Galván; Ramón Portillo    Department of Electronic Engineering, Engineering School, Seville University, Spain

Abstract

A horizontal-axis wind turbine is the most extensively used method for wind energy extraction. The power rating varies from a few watts to megawatts on large grid-connected wind turbines. The rotor is the part of the wind turbine that transforms the energy from the wind into mechanical energy. The area swept by the rotor is the area that captures the energy from the wind. The pitch control of a wind turbine makes it possible to regulate energy extraction at high speed wind condition. On the other hand, the use of variable speed makes the systems more expensive ...