Problem Overview
(as stated by the US Department of energy):
The competition challenges interdisciplinary teams of undergraduate students from a variety of academic programs to offer unique solutions to complex wind-energy-related problems. To fulfill the requirements, each team must perform the following multifaceted tasks:
- Design, build, and present a unique, wind-driven power system.
- Document the design of the turbine and load in a technical report.
- Present on the design and report to a panel of judges.
- Participate in a bonus, educationally focused siting challenge.
The 2017 Collegiate Wind Competition Technical Challenge focuses on testing a small-scale wind turbine in a wind tunnel. This year's competition adds the challenge of testing a turbine in yawed inflow. It simplifies the contest from the 2016 competition by removing the link to a market turbine and eliminates the business plan and deployment strategy. Specifically, for testing in the wind tunnel, competition participants will need to design and build:
- A turbine that is able to yaw, to address changing wind directions; that is safe, reliable, and effective; using sound electrical, mechanical, and aerodynamic practices.
- A load system that can match the power being generated. Students are encouraged, but not required, to make the load visually stimulating by indicating the power being generated in an interesting and creative way.
Electrical Team Problem Overview:
The electrical team has been tasked with developing the AC-DC Converter, DC-DC Converter, and load, with specific emphasis placed on developing a multilevel DC-DC converter.
Technical Project Depiction:
This figure shows the overall project. 3-phase AC power is generated by the turbine, then converted to DC power, and delivered to the DC-DC Converter. The DC-DC Converter serves to boost or buck the power delivered to a range within the requirements for the load, while achieving maximum power. Depending on the input, the voltage may have to increase to fit the specifications required, or the current may have to be stepped down as to not overload other electrical components. The DC-DC Converter was specified by the client to follow a set of input and output parameters, specified in the Design section. The parameters and specifications must also conform to those listed by the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy's Collegiate Wind Competition Rules and Regulations. The design, testing, and implementation of this DC-DC Converter into the circuit in the figure is the focus of this project.
Motivation of the Project:
As a team, we chose this project each team member has a basic understanding of the need for improving wind turbines for use as a renewable energy system. The team also has an interest in power conversion and making power conversion more efficient and less wasteful.
Aspirations:
We hope that through this project, we will gain a better understanding of wind turbines, wind technology, and how important the advancement of wind technology is for the future and the pursuit of renewable energy sources.
Potential Benefits and Applications:
Potential applications of this project are the improvement of a DC-DC converter with an advanced control scheme that can be used for personal or low power wind turbines, an improvement of pervious year designs and a starting point for an even more advanced design from future NAU capstone teams.