ABSTRACT

This chapter describes the principal components of a wind turbine, shows that wind turbines can work in different ways based on the type of their generator, and suggests how many ways solar energy can be utilized. It explains how solar energy is converted to electric energy, and argues that, like batteries, the electricity from solar panels is DC in nature. The chapter also shows what type of electric generators are used in wind turbines, why most wind turbine generators are not similar to those in other power plants, how frequency can be changed in AC electricity, and how a variable speed wind turbine works. It explores the use of power converters in wind turbines and photovoltaic systems, and the direct drive, subsynchronous, and supersynchronous. A wind turbine consists of five major and many auxiliary parts. The major parts are the tower, rotor, nacelle, generator, and foundation or base.