Wind Power and Renewable Energy Concepts

Wind Power Advantage

A significant amount of wind for power production is available everywhere.

Leading State in Wind Energy (2010)

Texas

Organization Promoting Wind Power

AWEA (American Wind Energy Association)

Factors Determining Wind Energy

The two primary factors that determine the energy carried by the wind are its mass and its velocity.

Effect of Doubling Rotor Diameter

It quadruples the area.

Theoretical Limit of Wind Energy Capture

Betz limit

Development Location of Large Wind Turbines

Offshore

Yaw Axis of Control

Vertical

Mechanical braking is the normal means of controlling rotor speed. (True/False)

False

Potential energy is a measure of energy within an object or mass that results from being set in motion. (True/False)

True

Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL)

The total current through a parallel circuit equals the sum of the current through each path.

Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL)

The sum of all voltage drops in a circuit equals the source voltage.

Series-Parallel Circuits

Both series and parallel current paths.

Parallel Circuits

Two or more parallel paths.

Series Circuits

Only one path for current flow.

PLC (Programmable Logic Controller)

A computer with I/O modules that gives specific outputs based on inputs.

Messenger Wire

A wire that supports other conductors and may carry current.

Solid-State Relay

A switching device with no moving parts using integrated circuits.

Ambient Temperature

The surrounding temperature of an installation area.

Best Insulation for High-Temp Wiring

Thermoset insulation

Examples of Electrical Loads

Electric heaters, motors, lights.

Site Substation Function

Power is collected and transformed to higher voltage for the grid.

Actual Generator Voltage

No, it can vary slightly.

Commercial Power Grid System

High-voltage lines connecting power sources and consumers.

Thermoplastic Insulation

Insulation that melts or becomes elastic under heat.

Stator windings

Stationary part of the generator windings.

Collection system

Interconnects turbines for delivery to the substation.

Turbine transformer

Boosts generator voltage before reaching substation.

LAN

Local Area Network for nearby computer/device connections.

Distribution conductors

Wires transporting power from turbines to substations.

Power-limited cable

Low-current control/communication without overcurrent protection.

AWG wire size for 25.6A nacelle heater

No. 8 AWG

Ampacity of No. 16 AWG THHN wire at 30°C with 3 conductors

18 amps

Wire size for 162A load at 460V 3-phase using THHW aluminum

No. 2/0 AWG

Part of fiber optic cable that carries light signal

Cladding

Where do stator windings output power to?

Nacelle

Interconnection of all turbine outputs

Collection system

Unique requirement for shielded control/sensor wires

Shield must be grounded.

Location with highest solar irradiance

Mountaintop with no dust and few clouds.

PV panel with flaked appearance

Likely made of polycrystalline cells.

PV cell used in BIPV

Thin film.

Why choose FLA batteries over AGM?

Less expensive.

Best solar charge controller for cold climate

MPPT controller.

Best time to note sun's position for solar south

1:30 pm.

Default azimuth angle in the southern hemisphere

180 degrees.

Declination angle during spring equinox

Zero.

Likely PV mount system on a flat roof

Rack mount system.

Government agency tracking solar data

Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Nuclear energy percent of U.S. electricity in 2009

21%.

Atomic number of uranium

92

What is an isotope?

Atom with unequal protons and neutrons.

What is yellowcake?

Waste rock from uranium milling.

What controls fission rate in reactors?

Control rod assemblies.

What surrounds reactor core for protection?

Containment vessel.

Why is water in a PWR pressurized?

To prevent boiling.

What is 'half-life'?

Time for half of radioactive atoms to decay.

Radioactive releases in 30 years of spent fuel transport

None.

Who split the atom in 1917?

Ernest Rutherford.

Who discovered radioactive elements using neutrons?

Enrico Fermi.

Type of warhead dropped on Nagasaki

Plutonium.

Future nuclear power depends on perfecting

Fusion.