Small Wind Energy and Hybrid Systems Programme
Introduction -
The combination of renewable energy sources, wind & solar are used for generating power called as wind solar hybrid system. This system is designed using the solar panels and small wind turbines generators for generating electricity.
To better understand the working of solar wind hybrid system, we must know the working of solar energy system and wind energy system. Solar power system can be defined as the system that uses solar energy for power generation with solar panels. The block diagram of solar wind hybrid system is shown in the figure in which the solar panels and wind turbine are used for power generation.
Wind energy is also one of the renewable energy resources that can be used for generating electrical energy with wind turbines coupled with generators.
Wind turbine can be defined as a fan consisting of 2 or 3 blades that rotate due to blowing wind such that the axis of rotation must be aligned with the direction of blowing wind. A gear box is used for converting energy from one device to another device using mechanical method; hence it is termed as a high-precision mechanical system. There are different types of wind turbines, but the frequently used wind turbines are horizontal axis turbines and vertical axis turbines.
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Solar Power system consists of three major blocks namely solar panels, solar photovoltaic cells, and batteries for storing energy. The electrical energy (DC power) generated using solar panels can be stored in batteries or can be used for supplying DC loads or can be used for inverter to feed AC loads. Solar Energy is available only during the day time whereas wind energy is available through out the day depending upon the atmospheric conditions.
Wind and solar energy are complementary to each other, which makes the system to generate electricity almost throughout the year. The main components of the Wind Solar Hybrid System are wind aero generator and tower, solar photovoltaic panels, batteries, cables, charge controller and inverter. The Wind - Solar Hybrid System generates electricity that can be used for charging batteries and with the use of inverter we can run AC appliances. Wind aero-generator is installed on a tower having a minimum height of 18 mtrs. from the ground level. Because of the height, the aero-generator gets wind at higher speed and thereby generates more power.
