An efficient off-grid high-elevation electric generation system using wind power

Though Wind Energy being the most readily usable source of electric power, in general, amongst the class of renewable resources, cannot readily be used as potential electric power source when compared to fossil fuels ; the comparatively bleak energy content at lower heights being its drawback. In the proposed work an effort is made to overcome this shortcoming by taking the advantage of greater wind speeds at higher elevations by bringing into use the heights of the high rise structures .e.g. Residential and shopping complexes, Mobile communication towers etc. As the electric power generated by a wind turbine increases in a cubic order with wind speed so the heights of relatively taller buildings and towers, in the order of tens of feet, is one of great significance. The prototype system, consisting of a small wind turbine interfaced with PC, deployed at a test site was used for monitoring the wind conditions as well as the actual electric power generation on a small scale. The data acquired thus along with actual wind profile recorded at the site over a period of time from other sources were further used in the simulation of a system harnessing power at different heights. A budgeting software was also used in order to keep track of the prices incorporated and financial assessment of the system. While keeping structural stresses within safe limits, the ultimate electrical power generated can be of such orders that it can be used to partly fulfill the running demand of a residential building.