Demonstration project: wind turbines for municipal water pumping

Technical Report · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:5694743

Nelson, V

In 1979, personnel from Alternative Energy Institute (AEI) studied the feasibility of using wind power in the operation of the municipal water system for the City of Canyon, Texas (1). Predicted energy outputs from six different wind turbines were calculated from power curves and long term National Weather Service (NWS) data. The conclusions were that the cheaper wind turbines should payback in 10 years, with a displacement of 30 to 50 percent of the energy needed for pumping the water wells. A Carter 25 wind turbine should displace 45,000 kWh/year and feed back to the utility grid 30,000 kWh/year. On this basis, a proposal was submitted to Department of Energy (DOE)-Appropriate Energy Technology for two Carter 25 wind turbines, which would operate in the wind assist-electric mode. In October 1980, DOE awarded $31,800 for the project, and the wind turbines were installed in March 1981. The mode of operation and description of Carter 25's are given. Data are taken on energy produced and windspeeds. Results include energy fed back to the utility, predicted energy from measured windspeeds, and reliability of the wind turbines. An economic analysis indicates wind turbines are not cost effective at the present time for pumping water at the Canyon well field.

• Research Organization: West Texas State Univ., Canyon (USA). Alternative Energy Inst.
• DOE Contract Number: FG46-80R612060
• OSTI ID: 5694743
• Report Number(s): DOE/R6/12060-T1; ON: DE84003142
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

17 WIND ENERGY
170601* -- Wind Energy Engineering-- Applications
170602 -- Wind Energy Engineering-- Turbine Design & Operation
ECONOMICS
ENERGY YIELD
PUMPS
RELIABILITY
USES
WATER SUPPLY
WIND-POWERED PUMPS
YIELDS