ESTIMATION PROCEDURE FOR APPLICATION EFFECT OF WIND-DIESEL POWER SYSTEMS FOR STAND-ALONE USERS

Abstract. The paper presents a calculation procedure of application efficiency of wind-diesel complexes in the rural electric supply system. Electrical capacity of a wind-powered generator (wind turbine) depends upon the air flow rate through the wind-wheel plane and is determined on the basis of weather data supplied by the nearest meteorological station. Under sufficient wind flow the wind turbine takes over a part of electrical load thus allowing for lower diesel fuel consumption and for disengagement of several diesel generators. The number and capacity of wind turbines are chosen according to the current electrical loads and parallel operation with diesel generators. The main aim of wind turbine application within the wind-diesel systems is diesel fuel economy. The fuel amount saved under the given power of the wind-driven generator depends upon the average annual wind speed at the height of the wind-wheel axis. Yearly economic effect of wind turbines is calculated by multiplying the annual energy output by the fuel factor in the prime cost of one kWh of electric energy with due account of the yearlong maintenance costs. The presented calculation procedure is verified by the fact that application of wind-driven power plants allows for diesel fuel economy. Other prime cost factors, such as auxiliary energy of diesel power stations, line losses, repair and maintenance costs are unaffected by the presence or absence of a wind turbine in the system. The presented procedure has been tested when designing an autonomous electric supply system for a settlement in the Arkhangelsk Oblast. Key words: renewable energy sources, wind turbine, diesel power station, diesel fuel economy, investment payback period