A controller for a Wind Driven Micro-power Electric Generator

Abstract

This chapter presents the design of a controller for a wind-driven electric generator. The system is based on Intel 8051 microcontroller and controls a wind turbine by activating a brake when the wind speed exceeds a preset value and releases the brake when the wind speed drops. The controller also measures the wind speed, turbine rotor speed, the generated voltage, and the ambient temperature. These parameters are then displayed on an LCD screen output. The parameters are also sent to a PC via an RS232 link for the purpose of data logging. The assembly coding was developed using KEIL μVISION development tools software and burned into the EPROM of the microcontroller. Further extension to the design can be done in terms of developing a PC data logging software to monitor and record remote serial data originating from the controller circuit.