> -----Original Message----- > From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu [mailto:piclist-bounces@mit.edu]On Behalf > Of Debbie > Sent: 25 September 2006 20:01 > To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public. > Subject: [EE] Wind Power Question .. was Energy - Solar Power - Israeli > Mojaveplan.. . > > > > --- Russell McMahon wrote: > > know that the system uses not PV cells but heated oil which in turn > > produces water-steam to drive turbines to make electricity. > > There's a large wind-turbine "farm" going up on the Gippsland > coast here in > Victoria. The wind doesn't blow all the time (duh!) and when it does the > turbine blades (3-bladed model in this case) can rotate at any > speed from dead > slow to damn fast. The power grid they contribute to is 3-phase, > 415V, 50Hz in > Australia. So how to they synchronise the turbines' output to the required > frequency and phase? Just curious. given the power big wind turbines put out i doubt they are feeding in at only 415V but that doesn't really affect the issue at hand. from what i've seen there are two ways to do this, one is to make the wind farm output DC and then invert it electroncially to feed the grid, the other is to use a special generator design (iirc it has field coils energised from a variable frequency inverter with the power drawn out through the rotor or something like that, i don't remember the details). i belive small wind turbines that you can easilly purchase and install yourself tend to be DC output. -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist