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Contenu archivé le 2022-12-27

DEMONSTRATION OF MEDIUM-SIZED WIND TURBINE GENERATORS IN THE APENNINES

Objectif

To set up a test site with eight horizontal-axis wind turbine generators, of a rotor diameter of 33 and 34 m, supplied by various European manufacturers, in order to be able to compare, in the field, the performance of machines manufactured in accordance with different technologies, in a mountain environment under particularly severe climatic conditions (high degree of turbulence, heavy snowfalls, and ice formation).
The processing of wind data recorded from 1984 to 1996 has worked out an annual average wind speed of 7.2 m/s at 15 m a.g.l.
The wind turbines have been monitored carefully especially in the winter time. A very cautions approach was adopted at the beginning and no unattended operation was allowed whenever harsh weather conditions occured. This fact, and the lengthy outages suffered by a few units for refits and adjustements, caused energy yield to be lower than expected during the testing Phase of this project. However, overall energy production from September 1994 to December 1996 was 5400 MWH; of this, 2179 MWH was produced in 1996.
One of the critical aspects observed was the frequent occurence of lightning strokes. These brought about failures of electronic equipment on machine controllers and the MCM system. In particular, the hardware and software of the MCM system had to be thoroughly revised after the first operating period.
Ice accretion, too, was very detrimental to energy production. Icing occured both on the blades and on the anenometers, and it generally caused increased unavailability and/or reduced power performance of the machines. Depending on the machine type, different anomalous situations were observed, which could lead to high vibrations, stop of wind turbines due to failures or off-design operation. Other troubles, which can be reffered to the high wind turbulence at the site, were experienced on some wind turbines at particularly unfavourable locations.
The test site has been set up in the Region of Molise, at a place called Acqua Spruzza, in the Commune of Frosolone (Province of Isernia). The site is located in the Apennines at an average height of 1350 m a.s.l. where severe meteorological conditions prevail. Wind measurements conducted continuously by ENEL stations since 1984 have confirmed the presence of a satisfactory windiness (7.2 m/s annual average wind speed at 15 m a.s.l.). The test site is now equipped with two meteorological and wind-measuring stations with 40 m high masts. The test site accommodates 8 wind turbines for a total installed capacity of 2,440 kW. The wind turbines are the following:
- Two 320-kW "MEDIT I" machines, rotor diameter 33 m, made by WEST (IT).
- Two 200-kW "M30" machines, rotor diameter 33 m, manufactured by Riva Calzoni (IT).
- Two 300-kW "MS-3" machines, rotor diameter 33 m, made by Wind Energy Group (United Kingdom),
- Two 400-kW "Windane 34" machines, rotor diameter 34 m, made by Vestas-Danish Wind Technology (Denmark).
The wind turbines are connected to ENEL's 20 kV distribution network.
A Central Measuring, Control and Monitoring System (MCM) provides centralized management of the whole plant. This system is based on a couple of VAX processors connected to 11 peripheral units serving, respectively, the 8 wind turbines, the 2 meteorological and wind-measuring stations and a station acquiring the main electrical data from the plant.
In addition to the experimental activities provided for in this Contract, which mainly regard the power and energy performance of machines, other more specific measurements have been made on effects closely related to the wind and weather conditions at this mountain site. The results of the latter, additional activity have also been contributed to JOULE III projects.
The project under this Contract consists of four phases, namely:
- Phase I - Planning of the test site.
- Phase II - Purchase and manufacture of wind turbine generators.
-Phase III - Setting up of the test site.
- Phase IV - Commissioning and experimental work.
Innovative aspects are due to the comparative assessment of the performance of medium-sized wind turbines, manufactured according to different technologies, in an environment for which, at least in Europe, very little experience has so far been had of operating wind turbines of a rotor diameter of about 30 m. Acquisition of exhaustive information on these aspects is deemed much more important than mere production of energy.
However, given a likely annual energy yield of 5,000 MWh and the other assumptions mentioned above, the unit cost of the energy produced can be estimated at Lire 319/kWh.
The Italian Government grants premium purchase prices to electricity produced from renewable sources through CIP Directive Nr. 6 of 29 April 1992. These prices are updated every year. The provisional 1997 prices are Lire 195.9/kWh for the first 8 years of plant operation and Lire 98.3/kWh in the remaining lifetime.

Thème(s)

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Appel à propositions

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Régime de financement

DEM - Demonstration contracts

Coordinateur

ENEL SPA
Contribution de l’UE
Aucune donnée
Adresse
Viale Regina Margherita, 137
00198 ROMA
Italie

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Coût total
Aucune donnée