Wind-assist irrigation and off-season power generation. Final report

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6665671· OSTI ID:6665671

Gilmore, E.; Nelson, V.; Starcher, K.; Barieau, R. E.

A wind turbine is mechanically connected to an existing irrigation well through an overrunning clutch. In the wind assist mode, the wind turbine assists or supplements the power from the electric motor. If enough power is available from the wind turbine, it is possible to drive the induction motor past synchronous speed and the motor becomes a generator and power is subsequently fed back into the utility line. For this installation this occurs at a windspeed of around 26 mph in the wind assist mode. Cut-in windspeed is around 12 mph. When irrigation water is not needed, the pump is disconnected from the electric motor and the wind turbine drives the electric motor solely as a generator and power is fed back into the utility line. Now the cut-in windspeed is around 14 mph. The addition of the electric generation mode allows the farmer to maximize the return on this investment because the wind turbine can be used whenever the wind is blowing. As with any development project, a number of delays were experienced in the construction and testing of the prototype wind turbine and some repairs were needed during the shakedown phase following installation at the site. However, the cumulative data collection system is adequate and the system will be operated over a year to obtain the data needed. The system is presently operating as planned. From June 5 through October 2 the wind turbine operated for 1140 hours of which 280 hours were in the electric generation mode and 860 hours in the wind assist mode. The maximum power obtained has been around 22 kW when the unit was pumping water and fed power into the utility line.

• Research Organization: West Texas State Univ., Canyon (USA). Alternative Energy Inst.
• OSTI ID: 6665671
• Report Number(s): TENRAC/EDF-022; ON: DE83900829
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

17 WIND ENERGY
170601* -- Wind Energy Engineering-- Applications
170602 -- Wind Energy Engineering-- Turbine Design & Operation
ELECTRIC GENERATORS
ELECTRIC MOTORS
INDUCTION GENERATORS
INSTALLATION
IRRIGATION
MACHINE PARTS
MACHINERY
MECHANICAL TRANSMISSIONS
METERING
MOTORS
PUMPS
SITE SELECTION
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
VELOCITY
WATER PUMPS
WIND TURBINES