http://www.opencircuits.com/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=137.222.92.69OpenCircuits - User contributions [en]2026-08-18T18:21:29ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.34.2http://www.opencircuits.com/index.php?title=Maximum_power_point_tracker&diff=18261Maximum power point tracker2009-04-20T16:15:25Z<p>137.222.92.69: </p>
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<div>== wind turbine maximum power point tracker ==<br />
<br />
I'm designing a maximum power point tracker (MPPT) specifically optimized for wind turbines.<br />
<br />
Currently available off-the-shelf MPPTs work fine in the application they were designed for.<br />
(See<br />
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximum_power_point_tracker wikipedia: maximum power point tracker]<br />
for details).<br />
However, apparently they won't work with wind turbines.<br />
When they pull the maximum instantaneous power from a spinning turbine, the turbine blades go slower and slower until it stops, at which point you're getting zero power out.<br />
<br />
The wind turbine maximum power point tracker I'm designing will extract more energy over the course of a day than those MPPTs.<br />
Instead of pulling the current that maximizes instantaneous power out, it will pull somewhat less current in order to keep the blades spinning at the optimum speed.<br />
The optimum speed will change over the course of the day as the wind speed changes.<br />
<br />
--[[User:DavidCary|DavidCary]] 08:14, 26 September 2008 (PDT)<br />
<br />
I've considered 2 possible strategies:<br />
<br />
(a) keep the blades spinning at the optimum speed, the speed that gives the maximum power out at the current wind conditions. The wind turbine acts as a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/base_load_power_plant base load power plant], in the sense that the amount of power it supplies is independent of the load.<br />
<br />
When using this strategy "a" with off-grid systems tied to a battery, when some device (say, a cordless drill) needs a quick burst of energy -- more power than the wind turbine is currently generating -- supply that energy from the batteries.<br />
<br />
(b) When there is low load, let the blades spin up slightly faster than the optimum speed. When some device (say, a cordless drill) needs a quick burst of energy -- more power than the wind turbine is currently generating -- supply that energy from by pulling *more* power from the wind turbine, temporarily slowing it down. The wind turbine acts as a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/peaking_power_plant peaking power plant].<br />
<br />
This strategy "b" uses the spinning blades as a form of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/flywheel_energy_storage flywheel energy storage].<br />
<br />
Which strategy is better for battery-less grid-tied wind turbines?<br />
Which strategy is better for off-grid systems with battery backup?<br />
--[[User:DavidCary|DavidCary]] 11:33, 27 September 2008 (PDT)<br />
<br />
==Online Resources==<br />
*[http://www.drgw.net/workshop/MPPT/mppt.html How to Build Your Own SD-100 MPPT] - Schematic & Instructions on how to build your own</div>137.222.92.69