Current environmental concerns, including the emission of greenhouse gases are driving a major rethink in the way in which we generate electricity. Future electricity networks are likely to be heavily reliant on smaller and more numerous distributed generation sites. Micro-generation technologies such as Photovoltaics, CHP and Fuel Cells are going to play a major role as supply technologies move in to urban areas, closer to the point of demand. These technologies can be used autonomously or connected in small networks or ‘micro-grids’. The exploitation of wind energy in the built environment has been slow. Large turbines are deemed unsuitable, raising concerns over vibrations, blade shedding, visual impact etc. There is, however, potential for small wind turbine technologies to become a major contributor in the field of micro-generation.
Wind in the Built Environment is highly turbulent and channelling effects between buildings are very site-specific. This project is concerned with the wind resource at the urban canopy level where the cause of turbulence is thought to be less specific. Using climate data collected from the roof of the University of Strathclyde's James Weir Building , this project seeks to characterise the wind resource. Then, using computer modelling techniques and empirical data gathered from work with a Ducted Wind Turbine, this project aims to gain a better understanding of how small-scale wind technologies behave in such conditions and how this translates in terms of energy yield, energy utilisation and the economic feasibility of potential projects.
The Team
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Martin Bell |
David Mudie |
Panagiotis Karnouskos |
martin.bell@highland.gov.uk |
david_mudie@hotmail.com |
karnou@web.de |