An Integrated Wind and Hydro Power System Using Switched Reluctance Generators

Abstract

This research work seeks to make renewable energy more reliable, cost effective, and accessible by exploring a different energy combination system to that currently applied to wind and hydro power. Instead of the usual electrical combination of wind and hydro generators, this work involved combining a water and wind turbine mechanically, before driving an electrical generator. This new combination system was modeled and optimized in MATLAB, using a direct combination system commonly found in multi-engine helicopters. The system was found to operate satisfactorily, however it is mechanically more complex than current electrical combining systems. Research was undertaken regarding wind and water resource availability, and the turbines were chosen with these taken into consideration. Various combination systems were explored, including torque and speed split mechanical combinations, conventional electrical combination, and using a modified switched reluctance generator as a method of electro-mechanical combination. The generator selected for this work is a three phase 12/8 Switched Reluctance (SR) machine. A detailed winding polarity having four poles per phase and their effect on the performance of the machine is observed.