Profil Title	Micro-wind-photovoltaic hybrid generator for isolated areas
Reference Nr.	06 ES BCAV 0EHC
Country of origin	Spain
Profil Type	Offer
Entry/Update	2006-03-02 / 2009-03-31

Abstract	A Spanish technological centre has designed a 2, 5 kW micro-wind generator in conjunction with photovoltaic plates. The hybrid system takes maximum advantage of renewable resources to supply electricity autonomously. Thus, it is an ideal solution for communities distant from the grid. It has easy installation and maintenance, remote control via GRPS and minimum aesthetic impact. Partners for manufacturing or commercial agreement with technical assistance are sought.
Details	The wind system is a triple-bladed generator with a horizontal axis rotor. Each blade is 2.1m long with an aerodynamic profile chosen for working with low Reynolds values - they have a variable angle of torsion running from the base to the tip. In this way, the angle of attack of the wind with respect to the vane is kept constant all along its length. They have a wide base to easily start up and a narrow tip to reduce noises to high-spin speeds. The rotor is directly coupled to a multi-polar electric generator consisting of permanent magnets (PMG) with no intermediate multiplier. The current generated is alternating and with variable voltage and frequency. This current goes to a number of batteries after passing through a voltage regulator that converts the alternating current to direct and eliminates the surplus voltage. Finally, a current inverter adapts the voltage for customary usage. The wind generator starts to rotate at wind speeds of 3.5m/s and reaches maximum power at 9.5m/s. If the wind exceeds a velocity of 16m/s the passive power control system (side furling) of the wind generator comes automatically into operation: this control system is achieved through an articulated assembly between passive power regulation system and the body of the wind generator, which is situated eccentrically to the axis of the wind generator’s truss tower. Thanks to this braking mechanism for the rotor, both the electric surge infrastructure and the mechanical components are protected against excessive centrifugal forces. The photovoltaic system has 4 plates made of mono-crystalline silicon with 0,5 kW of total power. The wind-photovoltaic system is monitored and managed by remote control. The communication interface of the remote control has been developed specifically for low-power wind generator by the Spanish technological centre. This interface is more economical than network analysers existing on the market. The remote communication is via GPRS (Global Packet Radio System). One advantage of GPRS is that customers may be charged only for the amount of data that is transported instead of the duration of connection. This hybrid system is designed to work autonomously, i.e. outside the electric grid system. So, this kind of application is of great use in communities distant from cities or towns such as rural areas or zones under development. These systems can be used as a substitute for the grid in areas where the latter system is prohibitively expensive and, moreover, they promote awareness regarding natural resources. Innovative Aspects: - If they are compared to high-powered wind generators, the main difference is in the simplicity: easy installation and maintenance, minimum aesthetic impact and totally integratable into the environment. - Lower stress fatigue, less noise and lower variation of aerodynamic torque in the axis than in traditional wind generator. - Only regulated by wind speed. - Wind-photovoltaic hybrid system is the optimal solution for isolated generation since photovoltaic system complements energy production in calm periods when micro-wind generator does not work. - Simplicity: - no multiplier, - minimum number of mobile parts - Passive power and orientation control system, - minimum maintenance. - Remote control via GPRS. - Electrogenic groups can be connected to the inverter in order to charge batteries if the renewable resource is not enough.
Technology sector	- Renewable Sources of Energy - Photovoltaics - Wind energy
Market application	- Photovoltaic solar - Wind energy
Stage of development	Already on the market
Patent Rights (IPR)	Secret know-how
	Current Stage of Development: Already on the market A 2.5 kW micro-wind generator has been installed at a resort it has been producing energy which is initially planned to power the resort’s four refrigerators, the control room, the data-reception sensors and the PCs Intellectual Property Rights: Secret know-how Exploitation of RTD Results: PRIVATE RESEARCH
Cooperation type	- Adaptation to specific needs - Change in the currently used technologies - Assembly - Engineering - Technical consultancy # Type of partner sought Industry, companies or organisation as end user in isolated areas and rural communities. # Specific area of activity of the partner * Wind generator manufacturer * Renewable energy * Distributed energy generation sector # Task to be performed * They are looking for companies in the wind energy sector interested in incorporating the new product in their wind energy portfolio for manufacturing agreement or commercial agreement with technical assistance. * Distributed energy generation companies interested in applying the hybrid system for commercial agreement with technical assistance. * Partners that need solutions to supply energy in isolated areas are also sought for commercial agreement with technical assistance. The technology centre offers technical consultancy * Micro-wind generator prototyping > Complete 3D design of components and assembly > MEF calculations of the main structural components > Calculation and dynamic simulation of the orientation and furling manoeuvres * Analysis, development and construction of isolated generation solutions > Micro-wind generators, photovoltaic systems, electrogenic groups. > Site viability study > Calculation of the percentage of wind-solar-electrogenic resources for optimum configuration > Installation and start-up > Data acquisition remote systems for control and evaluation of systems.
Organisation type	Technical Centre/Technology transfer Centre      Org. Size: 50-249
Status	This profile is expired! For further details, please contact your local EEN office.