12.

4 Wind Hybrid Systems

Frank R. Leslie,
B. S. E. E., M. S. Space Technology, LS IEEE
3/15/2010, Rev. 2.1
fleslie @fit.edu; (321) 674-7377
www.fit.edu/~fleslie

In Other News . . .
Wind Turbines in Chicago Tribune 3/14/10
http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/3946002

(Source: Chicago Tribune) By Julie Wernau, Chicago Tribune

Mar. 14--Months have passed since anyone has waved hello to one
another in Waterman or Shabbona in rural DeKalb County. Some
people claim they've even stopped going to church to avoid having to
talk to former friends.
"It's gone. The country way of living is gone," declares Susan Flex, who
lives in Waterman with her husband and their nine children.
The animosity stems from the greenest of energy sources: a wind
farm.
Complaints of noise and light flicker

100315

12.4 Overview: Wind/Solar Hybrid Systems

Erratic energy sources like wind and solar are not
dispatchable, that is, available on command of utility
dispatchers
Sometimes or often, the wind blows when it is cloudy,
or the sun shines when the wind is calm
A system that combines various energy sources is called
a hybrid system
Diesel generators are often used for reliable power,
and wind or solar are used to decrease the fuel costs
Studies of a site can indicate the optimal combination of
wind, solar, and diesel (or gasoline) to provide power at
the lowest overall annual cost
050310

12.4 About This Presentation

12.4.1 Energy Mixture Availability
12.4.2 Hybrid Mixes

060306

12.4.3 Economics of System Combination

12.4.4 Hybrid System Design
12.4.5 Balance of System (BOS)
12.4.6 Power Control
12.4.7 Power Availability
12.4.8 Hybrid System Examples
12.4 Conclusion

12.4.1 Energy Source Mixture Availability

Assessment of wind vs. solar for a specific site uses a small

representative turbine or anemometer and a PV module
The energy ratio plotted throughout a year indicates the
relative energies available, which can then be compared
with system cost ($/kWh)
The actual energies available can then be compared with
longer-term climate data to estimate annual variations
Life-cycle costs of the two systems must be included to get a
comprehensive determination of an optimal system design
One of the systems might be omitted if the energy
contribution is less than ~5% of the total
Why bother if $/kWh is too high?

100315

12.4.1 Energy Source Cost Choices

Hypothetical
Cost Line

100% $ 0%
http://dna-view.com/triangle.htm

50% $

0%S, 100% F

50%

33.3%S, 33.3%W, 33.3% F

Solar
0%

Wind

100%

50%

Fuel

100%

0%
100%W, 0% F

Assess cost of various mixes of energy, enter total costs, sketch contours to
seek lowest cost region
100315

12.4.2.1 Wind/Diesel
Wind/diesel systems work well
where sunlight is limited, as
above the Arctic Circle or below
the Antarctic Circle
Wind turbines have worked well
at the South Pole Station, but
diesel generators are also hard
at work there
Gasoline engines also can be
used, but may lack the life of a
heavy diesel engine
Diesel fuel costs $2.90; gasoline
$2.77 as of 3/15/2010
100315

www.renewableenergyaccess.com

12.4.2.1 Wind/Diesel

100315

3/15/2010
diesel prices

12.4.2.1 Wind/Diesel
1970-2009 crude oil $ vs. production million barrels per day

100315

12.4.2.2 Solar/Diesel Hybrids

Solar power has a much more stable short term output
than wind power; the solar energy is less volatile than
wind to use an economics term
As the insolation rises in the morning, the diesel engine
might be shut down until late afternoon or when clouds
reduce solar power for a certain number of minutes

The controller could run the diesel engine only when the
battery voltage drops below a very low set point, such as
10.5 volts
The diesel would be stopped when the battery
voltage rose to approximately 13.9 volts
A battery-charging procedure minimizes the number of
engine starts and ensures full-load engine operation
100315

12.4.2.3 Diesel Engines

A 9.2 kVA diesel
package plant from
Genasys Systems in a
quieting package (top)
Multiple large diesel
sets (bottom)
A small diesel might
require 2.5 L/hr at idle
and 7.5 L/hr at 14 kW
changing somewhat
linearly from idle to full
load

http://www.eere.energy.gov/windpoweringamerica/
100315

12.4.2.4 Propane Engine Generator

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in the United States is
primarily propane, but also contains propylene, butane,
and butylene
Gasoline-carbureted generators may be converted to
propane; often done in pickup trucks in Western US
The Onan (Cummins) generator shown below produces
5.5 kW and costs ~$2970 (~$540/kW)
One gallon/hour of liquid propane will produce ~10kW

http://www.merequipment.com/Frequently%20Asked%20Questions/Powergard_Elliott_faq.htm
100315

http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/ecmd/html/propane.htm

12.4.2.5 Tripartite Systems

A wind/solar/diesel system is only somewhat more
complex than the wind/solar type

The system balance between wind and solar is

determined as in a conventional system, adjusting the
costs of each to match the available energy
If the sun rarely shines, the solar equipment would
not be cost-effective
If the wind rarely blows, the wind equipment would
not be cost-effective
Each of these sources offsets the need for diesel
consumption, yet including some diesel capacity
improves the availability and reliability of power

100315

12.4.2.6 Fuel Consumption

The rate of diesel fuel consumption is critical to the
analysis
Diesel fuel costs ~20% more than gasoline
Biodiesel is even more costly
Fuel transportation raises the actual fuel cost and
must be included in the total price
The engine speed must be matched to the
generator/alternator to optimize efficiency
When the generator runs, it should do so at full load,
charging batteries as necessary, then shutting down
completely to save fuel

070226

12.4.3 Economics of Plant Combination

The location is the prime driver of the costanalysis
When the remoteness and lack of roads makes
fuel-hauling or helicopter transport too costly,
the wind or solar components must be
increased to ensure reliable power
Mountain-top radio repeaters exemplify the
inaccessible site, and access may be limited to
hiking or horseback (pack trains)
The handset radio has 5W to reach the
repeater, the repeater receiver audio is
patched to the 50W transmitter on another
frequency, and the high power signal
reaches other receivers farther away
Matching of the load times to the energy times
determines the need for storage capacity

070313

Scottish Moor
http://www.windsund.com

12.4.4 Hybrid Installation Design

Some rules from Manwell, et al.:
Without storage, the load limits what energy may be
used or extracted
Load matching for time of day limits output as well
Diesel engines must be sized for highest load to carry
the loads in normal operation
The savings is never greater than the fuel savings

060308

Manwell, et al., 2002

12.4.5 Balance of Systems (BOS)

The balance of system must include the necessary fuel
tanks, piping, transportation support, etc.

Local shops may be needed to perform engine overhaul,

since the distance to civilization may be great
BOS must include means of transporting fuel to the
engine
If a truck is normally used to travel to a location that
has fuel, there might not be an extra trip or expense
With dual truck tanks, one might be used just for
hauling fuel for the generator
The labor (driver) cost is increased slightly for getting
fuel, but increased greatly if the trip would not have
been otherwise made
080226

12.4.5.1 Balance of Systems (Wiring)

An
installation
in China
Please
dont do
this!
Wiring
should be
neat and
well
secured to
prevent
fires!

100315

http://www.nrel.gov/international/china/pdfs/vp_workshop_2002/wallace_undp.pdf

12.4.5.2 Balance of Systems (Diesel)

Fueled systems will require tanks, lines, and possibly
pumps

In cold weather, diesel oil thickens, and insulation or

heating of the lines may be required
Hot water tubes can be run parallel to the fuel lines
Small car engines may use 3 liters per 100 km (78 mpg)
If at 78 mph, that would be 3 L/hr, or to avoid mixed
units systems, approximately 3/4 gallon/hour
A typical 500 gallon tank would hold ~500 hours of fuel,
so replacement fuel must be obtained faster than that to
keep the tank filled so the generator doesnt stop

100315

12.4.5.3 Battery Storage

Batteries provide an inexpensive form of storage
They are required for wind and solar energy, but diesel
(gasoline) generators could run to carry the load
For reliability, some diesel service might expensively be
kept online at all times to avoid starting delays
Large battery systems require some maintenance checks
but usually last for many years (7-20)
A large Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) can carry
the load for minutes to hours or longer depending upon
the amount of battery ampere-hours that supports it
Adding storage means that the energy available is
leveled and unnecessary engine starts are avoided
050310

12.4.5.3.1 Battery Storage (Australia)

http://www.solarshop.com.au

100315

This shipping container contains the controller and a very large

battery

12.4.6 Power Control

System monitoring by computer allows programming of
automated supervisory monitoring and determines
actions to take in response
The system functions in software might include
Start an engine
Control battery charging
Control energy load dumping for wind turbine
Change loads to match available power
Engage engine clutch
Report alarms to a distant operator

070226

12.4.6.1 Power Control for Backup Engine-Generator

The engine-generator starting sequence automatically begins when
the line voltage sags (drops) below perhaps 105 volts
A transfer switch changes the load from the wind/solar inverter
output to the engine-generator output
The battery is connected to the starter motor and the engine is
cranked to start under a solenoid-controlled choke fuel
enrichment
As the starter turns over the engine-generator, the speed is
sufficient to provide voltage to the load
Once the engine is running, the choke is opened to provide a
normal fuel mixture
The entire sequence is so fast that lights on the load side dont
noticeably flicker
When inverter power returns for thirty seconds, the load is
switched to the inverter (after a delay) and the engine is
stopped

100315

12.4.6.2 Power Control for Continuous Hybrid System

In a full hybrid system, the engine runs continuously

and the wind/solar sources subsidize (add to) the
available energy, saving fuel by shutting down the
engine whenever possible
The inverter is synchronously matched to the power
frequency and voltage, providing more or less power as
is available

100315

12.4.7 System Availability

As long as the engine works and the diesel fuel lasts,
system availability is high

If the renewable sources are low, the fuel will be used

faster (and require replenishment more often)
If the engine fails and there is no storage (battery), the
system will only have the varying renewable energy and
might not function at all due to voltage variations
Solar energy might carry the load until mid-afternoon,
but the wind system would be too variable in many
locations

100315

12.4.8 Example: Alaskan Hybrid Site

Coast Guard Station in
Alaska

Wind and solar energy

seem to be augmented by
five large propane tanks
near the base of the turbine
If so, a propane-fueled
generator would be used
instead of diesel
There is likely a really
long fill hose on the
supply boat that can
connect to the tanks
http://www.uaf.edu/energyin/webpage/pages/other_important_topics/hybrid.htm
090317

12.4.8.1 Example: San Clemente Island, CA

US Navy turbine installation to reduce diesel fuel use by

a navigation light
NREL determined that cost of energy (COE) was
$0.193/kWh vs. $0.45/kWh baseline with all diesel
power
100315

12.4.8.2 PV Installation in Australia

Diesel generator supplies backup

power

See www.solarshop.com.au for

details
060217

http://www.solarshop.com.au/

12.4 Conclusion: Wind Hybrid

Combinations of energy sources will provide more reliable
power than any one source alone --- energy diversity

Diesel, propane, or gasoline engine-generators produce

power on demand, and can self-start when the power
line voltage is dropping
Natural gas can be piped to some areas
When wind or solar energy is available, the fueled
generator will shut down, saving its fuel cost
Although overall costs are higher, the power is more
reliable

070226

Olin Engineering Complex 4.7 kW Solar PV Roof Array

Questions?

080116

References: Books
Boyle, Godfrey. Renewable Energy, Second Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press,
2004, ISBN 0-19-26178-4. (my preferred text)
Brower, Michael. Cool Energy. Cambridge MA: The MIT Press, 1992. 0-262-02349-0,
TJ807.9.U6B76, 333.7940973.
Duffie, John and William A. Beckman. Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes. NY:
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 920 pp., 1991
Gipe, Paul. Wind Energy for Home & Business. White River Junction, VT: Chelsea
Green Pub. Co., 1993. 0-930031-64-4, TJ820.G57, 621.45
Patel, Mukund R. Wind and Solar Power Systems. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 1999, 351
pp. ISBN 0-8493-1605-7, TK1541.P38 1999, 621.312136
Srensen, Bent. Renewable Energy, Second Edition. San Diego: Academic Press,
2000, 911 pp. ISBN 0-12-656152-4.
Texter,

090227

References: Websites, etc.

http://www.uaf.edu/energyin/webpage/pages/other_important_topics/hybrid.htm
http://www.sandia.gov/wind/
http://gttserv.lth.rwth-aachen.de/~sp/tt/gtt-news/gttn_13.html triangle plotting of proportions
http://www.nrel.gov/international/china/pdfs/vp_workshop_2002/wallace_undp.pdf RE systems

http://alaska.bp.com/alaska/beyond_petroleum/limevillage/limevillage.htm Lime Village, Alaska by BP

http://www.eere.energy.gov/windpoweringamerica/pdfs/workshops/2002_wind_diesel/san_clemente_california.pdf
____________________________________________________________________________
awea-windnet@yahoogroups.com. Wind Energy elist
awea-wind-home@yahoogroups.com. Wind energy home powersite elist
mailto:energyresources@egroups.com
rredc.nrel.gov/wind/pubs/atlas/maps/chap2/2-01m.html PNNL wind energy map of CONUS windenergyexperimenter@yahoogroups.com. Elist
for wind energy experimenters
telosnet.com/wind/20th.html
www.google.com/search?q=%22renewable+energy+course%22
solstice.crest.org/
dataweb.usbr.gov/html/powerplant_selection.html
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/gdu/gasdiesel.asp
http://www.pruftechnik.com/fileadmin/user_upload/COM/Condition_Monitoring/Products/Online_Systems/VIBROWEB_XP/Brochure/PRUFTEC
HNIK_WindBrochure2010_en.pdf

100315

Notes hybrid
Sorenson p. 851

030315