EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF A SAIL WIND POWER STATION ACTUATOR

Abstract

The paper is devoted to the study of an automatically controlled small sail wind power station (SWPS). This SWPS has several advantages over traditional WPSs, i.e. it consists of six generators located on the base; it may operate at a wide range of wind speeds, 2.5 m/s and higher, regardless of changes in the direction of the wind. A special feature of the SWPS is that a parallel SHOLKOR manipulator, in which the main functional elements are six actuators, is used to convert wind energy.  The efficiency of converting wind energy perceived by the sail into mechanical energy and then into electrical energy is largely determined by the efficiency of the actuator. In this regard, the paper sets the task of experimentally determining the efficiency of a prototype actuator for further assessment of the efficiency of SWPS. In order to solve this task, an experimental unit with technical measuring instruments has been created. A methodology for conducting experiments has been developed, and experimental studies have been conducted. Processing of the experimental results made it possible to determine the efficiency of the actuator within the range of 0.56-0.58 and to substantiate its reliability. The methodology and experimental results can be used to improve the designs of actuators and SWPSs in general. Due to the fact that the actuator is a converter of reciprocating mechanical motion into electrical energy and can be used as part of other technical systems, the results of the study are of crucial practical importance for energy converters of this type