Hooking up a voltage regulator to a wind turbine system

GreenPowerManiac
GreenPowerManiac Solar Expert Posts: 453 ✭✭✭
in Wind Power Generation #1
Hey, I'm back. Had a few alternator voltage regulators laying around and thought I'd look into hooking them up to my turbines after the rectifier.

The two that I have are from a Delco 10si alternator. Any idea on how to hook them up ?
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Comments

  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,654 admin
    #2
    Re: Hooking up a voltage regulator to a wind turbine system

    As far as I know, it will not work for most (smaller) wind turbines.

    Your turbines are probably PMA (permanent magnet alternators). A car alternator uses a set of field coils on the rotating shaft. The alternator regulator varies the current through the coil to change the alternator's output current (high field current, high output current. Low field current, little output current).

    PMA is used because it is something like 10-20% more efficient over field current type alternators.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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  • GreenPowerManiac
    GreenPowerManiac Solar Expert Posts: 453 ✭✭✭
    #3
    Re: Hooking up a voltage regulator to a wind turbine system

    So what you're saying is that my only option is a diversion load for the extra power?
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  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,654 admin
    #4
    Re: Hooking up a voltage regulator to a wind turbine system

    Yep, or short/crowbar the alternator output and stall the blades.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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  • GreenPowerManiac
    GreenPowerManiac Solar Expert Posts: 453 ✭✭✭
    #5
    Re: Hooking up a voltage regulator to a wind turbine system

    One other thing. Off the subject, how much wattage is good for one sla deep cycle battery? Just bought another 1.120 kW of solar panels and would like to know if my system of 15 batteries can handle 3 kW.
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  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,654 admin
    #6
    Re: Hooking up a voltage regulator to a wind turbine system

    What type of sla and ah rated batteries?

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #7
    Re: Hooking up a voltage regulator to a wind turbine system

    With wind, you are going to need DIVERSION load controllers, that will disconnect the turbine from the batteries, and then place a heavy load on the turbine to slow it down to prevent it from overspeed when unloaded.
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  • Volvo Farmer
    Volvo Farmer Solar Expert Posts: 209 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #8
    Re: Hooking up a voltage regulator to a wind turbine system
    mike90045 wrote: »
    With wind, you are going to need DIVERSION load controllers, that will disconnect the turbine from the batteries, and then place a heavy load on the turbine to slow it down to prevent it from overspeed when unloaded.

    I have a diversion controller (Xantrex C60) on my wind turbine, and it never disconnects the turbine from the batteries, nor does it place a heavy load on the turbine to slow it down. My diversion controller dumps excess power through some big-arse resistors right off the battery when the voltage climbs above a certain setpoint. The wind turbine remains connected to the batteries at all times.

    What kind of diversion controller are you talking about? I have never heard of such a thing.
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  • GreenPowerManiac
    GreenPowerManiac Solar Expert Posts: 453 ✭✭✭
    #9
    Re: Hooking up a voltage regulator to a wind turbine system

    Real quickly, and off the subject, how much wattage should a 120ah deep cycle require to charge it efficiently ? RC rating of 160 on a set of 15 deep cycle batts. Can it take a 3kw load ?
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  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,654 admin
    #10
    Re: Hooking up a voltage regulator to a wind turbine system

    Efficiently, 5%... Well ~10%, Fast 13% or more:

    120 AH * 14.5 volts charging * 0.10 rate of charge = 174 watts

    The maximum continuous load for a flooded cell battery ~13% ( C/8 ) recommended (by me:roll:):

    120 AH * 12 volts nominal * 0.13 rate of discharge = 187 watts

    Maximum surge current (again for flooded cell) is around C/2.5 or C*0.4:

    120 AH * 12 volts * 1/2.5 = 576 watts

    Of course, you can do more--but you do run the risk of things not working out as well... As batteries charge/discharge faster, they tend to heat up and not be as efficient (more heat and more losses). And they may not supply needed surge energy/current when operation at less than full charge (battery voltage collapse).

    Again, just rules of thumb to get you in the ball park. If you need more current from a smaller battery, look into AGM's... They are designed for short term/high energy loads (like UPS systems).

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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