As they say, the solution to our energy problems may be blowing in the wind. The commentary on this page is limited to the Liberty Clipper class wind turbines. The largest turbines in this class have a rotor diameter of over 300 feet with an overall height in the 400 feet area. These amazing machines generate 2.5 megawatts output at rated wind speed and require little maintenance. Wind machines may prove to be inefficient generators based on a number of issues. For an alternative view, you are invited to read my case for nucler power on this page.

These machines operate in tough environments. Besides direct lightning hits, the machines are typically located in remote areas where the electrical grid tends to resemble a yo-yo more than a stable network. Protection of the electronics as well as the generators is paramount. For a number of reasons only and electrical engineer or technician would appreciate, the generators use permanent magnets and output only Direct Current (DC). DC output voltage is 1320 volts at rated output. A total of four DC generators (Item No. 5 in the diagram) are used to harvest the wind energy. DC operation allows the turbine to be variable speed and run at other than electrical grid synchronous and asynchronous speed. DC operation also means the generators are totally isolated from the AC electrical grid. Connection to the electrical power grid is by way of solid state electronic power converters. The electronics meet the stringent IEEE-519 requirements for harmonic distortion and power factor.

The small DC generator size allows change-out of virtually all electrical and most mechanical components without the use of a large crane. Rotor hub components are serviced from inside the hub without exposure to the elements.

I doubt than and REA would be required to connect to this class of wind turbine. Most wind farms using large wind turbines connect to and sell to transmission companies not local distribution organizations.

Please continue to next page - - Solar -- Wind -- REA's

• Liberty Wind Turbines
• American Wind Energy
• DC-AC Inverters Explained
• Inverter Islanding Solved
• IEEE 929 & UL 1741 Explained
• Incentives Database
• Empire Elect. Net Metering