Overview
Wind turbine gearboxes present major reliability issues, spurring interest in gearless direct-drive wind energy systems. Offering high reliability, high efficiency, and low maintenance, these systems point the way to the next generation of wind power. Electrical Drives for Direct Drive Renewable Energy Systems discusses their design, development, and operation. Part One outlines electrical drive technology. Principles of electrical design for permanent magnet generators are discussed, as are electrical, thermal and structural generator design and systems integration. Then, power electronic converter technology and power electronic converter systems for direct drive renewable energy applications are reviewed. Part Two focuses on wind and marine applications, beginning with an overview of wind turbine drive systems and an introduction to direct drive wave energy conversion systems. The commercial application of these technologies is investigated in case studies on the permanent magnet direct drive generator in the Zephyros wind turbine and the Archimedes Wave Swing (AWS) direct drive wave energy pilot plant. The book concludes by exploring the application of high-temperature superconducting machines to direct drive renewable energy systems. Electrical Drives for Direct Drive Renewable Energy Systems provides a comprehensive review of key technologies for those involved with or interested in design, construction, operation, development and optimization of direct drive wind and marine energy systems.
