ASABE Technical Library - Abstract
Member and Access Notice
The Construction of the Mobile Wind Energy Plant MoWE
Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org
Citation: Paper number 028049, 2002 ASAE Annual Meeting . (doi: 10.13031/2013.9245) @2002Authors: Hartwig IRPS, Dr.
Keywords: Wind energy plant, wind power plant, wind energy pump, wind pump, wind heating system, mobile wind energy plant, mobile wind energy converter, permanent-magnet synchronous generator
An international first is the construction of a mobile wind energy plant with two rotors
which can be used to capture wind energy on different locations. The rotational energy which is
produced by the two three bladed rotors leads on to two positions to a shaft for PTO (power
take off) use, similar to the three point hydraulic hitch on modern tractors. Aggregates as for
example, a mechanical water pump, an electric generator for stand alone or with grid
connection, an air-compressor for energy storage or other suitable equipment. The first
MoWEC-prototype has been used in a test period in the German Federal Agricultural Research
Center (FAL) in Braunschweig since the beginning of 2002. Another aim of the project is to use
normal agricultural equipment for the transformation of wind energy into usable energy (PTO
generator, PTO water pump, PTO air compressor, ...).
There are lots of different designs in terms of heights, width and rated power possibilities. The
wing heights amounts in the present MoWEC prototype to 10 meter. The total rotor swept area
results in 80 m, because each of the two rotors have a diameter of 7.10 meters. The rated
power yields are from 10 to 20 kW. We carry out experiments with this prototype to receive data
especially on the details of construction. In addition we are conducting experiments with a
specialized Lee wind wheel which shall be used for the yaw control at low and high wind
velocities. Among the most important applications areas are: Irrigation and drainage of surfaces
as well as the electrical energy supply in systems with grid connection or in stand alone
systems, the latter also for heating.
The MoWEC concept also makes possible different performances levels and numbers of rotors.
An installation on a floating platform also is conceivable (for example for use on lakes, rivers or
near the coast).
The prototype of this mobile wind-powered plant was developed for rural areas. When
commercially available, it can be bought, rented or leased. The necessary installations are
understandable and technically simple. For transportation purposes, the mobile wind energy
converter MoWEC can be folded up. The total width then amounts to 2.80 meter, meaning the
new machine can be transported on normal roads as an agricultural implement.