Wind Energy Handbook

International Journal of Electrical Engineering Education, Jan 2004 by Watson, Simon

T. Burton, D. Sharps, N. Jenkinsand E. Bossanyi, Wind Energy Handbook,Wileey, 2001,642 pp., £85.

This large tome by Messrs Burton, Sharpe, Jenkins and Bossanyi gives a detailed and technical description of the mechanical, electrical, aerodynamic, meteorological and planning aspects of modern wind turbines. The book opens with a very brief introduction to the historical development of wind turbines and their metamorphosis to the modern day wind turbine. This is then followed by a relatively short section describing surface boundary layer flow and its importance to wind energy.

Where the book really starts to get into its stride is its treatment of the aerodynamics of wind turbines. This section gets very mathematical very quickly and demands close attention by the reader. It begins with relatively simple actuator disc theory, through blade element momentum theory and on to the effect of tip losses. A detailed analysis is given of yawed flow and the reader is then introduced to the acceleration potential method developed from the study of helicopter rotors allowing a more detailed picture of the pressure drop across a wind turbine rotor than would be allowed from simple actuator disc theory. The section on aerodynamics then rounds off with a look at unsteady flow across a wind turbine rotor. This very well written and comprehensive section of the book is slightly spoilt by a number of typographical errors in some of the equations.

The next part of the book deals with wind turbine performance introducing the ubiquitous C^sub p^-[lambda] curve to describe power performance. The reader is introduced to the various ways in which wind turbines are regulated including pitching to feather and pitching to stall. Finally, this section deals with the testing of wind turbines in the field and the associated standards. The book then moves on to a very detailed description of the structural aspects of wind turbines covering the various design loads experienced by a horizontal axis machine, including extreme loads, fatigue loading, stationary blade loading and loading during normal operation. A good analysis of the dynamic response of tower and blades including teetering motion then follows.

A less mathematical section follows which describes how and why wind turbines are designed as they are, including the pros and cons of different types of power regulation, fixed and variable speed wind turbines, synchronous and induction generators, drive train logistics and upwind versus downwind configurations. The next section deals with the design of the different components of a wind turbine focussing on the blades but also touching on the rotor, gearbox, generator, brakes, yaw mechanism, tower and foundations. The book now moves on to the electrical aspects of wind turbines focussing on the turbine controller and its design to facilitate the different methods of power control and power quality.

At this point, the book focuses on the planning aspects of wind farms, taking some examples from the WindFarm computer program written by ReSoft. This section also covers the analysis of noise and electromagnetic interference from wind turbines. The section is rounded off by a brief look at finance and funding mechanisms for wind turbines looking mainly at the UK. The book concludes with a look at the electrical grid aspects of wind turbines when embedded in distribution networks covering such topics as power quality, electrical protection, lightning protection, connection charging and the impact on the system.

This book gives the reader a very rounded introduction to wind turbines at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. The coverage of aerodynamics and structural dynamics of wind turbines is quite specialist and very mathematical and is most suited for students at the postgraduate and research level. The price tag of £85 may seem a little high but represents good value for money for a book of this detail. This is an essential textbook for those who wish for a better understanding of the field of wind energy.

Simon Watson Loughborough University