Progress Report - Breamlea Windgenerator 16 June 1995 Data Logger: The "DataTaker" DT50 data logger is now installed and measuring every half hour the following parameters: average windspeed, minimum wind- speed, maximum windspeed, kilowatt-seconds, average kilowatts, minimum kW, maximum kW, standard deviation of kW, kWh per half hour, minutes in low speed mode, minutes in high speed mode, number of generator transitions (on->off or off->on), and hopefully very soon the shaft speed of the generator. Wind direction would be nice as would the second anemometer to be connected, but we are already getting snowed under with data, and probably need to restrict data collection to the most useful parameters.Remote data transfers: Michael Gunter and Adrian Oakey have been busy with their modems in the late evenings, trying to get data transfer up and running. There have been some successes, and Michael has on one occasion done a Zmodem file transfer from Breamlea to Melbourne. An old XT portable computer and modem of Michael's will be on loan to the meter hut and he is trying to develop a script program that will automatically ring up someone's modem in Melbourne (off-peak of course!) and send the latest data down the wires. This has the advantage of programming simplicity and security, but can be a nuisance if you have to be around to turn on your computer to accept the call. (Any volunteers for a roster?) Data Analysis: Anybody in the ATA who wants copies of the data contact Michael or Adrian, send a floppy with return postage, or arrange for us to send data via modem (no faxes please!). We will probably be supplying data to Citipower as well, since they indicated last year that sharing information was one of their expectations after putting in $6000 for us to buy the machine. Preliminary analysis of only 30 hours of data seems to indicate that the windgen. is performing better than the Westwind performance graph. This may indicate that the anemometer is under-reading and needs re-calibrating. The calibration of the analogue kW meter also needs to be checked on Sunday 18 June. This is easily done by comparing the sum of the kWh readings in the DataTaker with the reading on the "official" SECV meter in the meter hut. PowerCor's Wires - !@#$%&* - We have been losing money again because of the unreliability of the local 22 kV feeder. Only last week there was a pole fire which caused a 6 hour blackout, and the week before that the new transformer they recently installed between us and the sewage pumping station blew-up (literally according to one of the locals) and had the EPA in attendance mopping-up poly-chlorinated biphenyls! Let's hope we have better luck in the coming months. One realistic option is to wire up the data logger to switch on the windgen. automatically after every blackout. Michael G has already written the necessary program into the logger, but a group decision needs to be made (and the programming checked from a safety point of view). PowerCor Negotioations: The Sales Manager in Geelong has to be contacted to get their response to our claim for a donation. The other issue is getting written agreement for our grid-connection: this is really pending on a decision from the Office of the Regulator-General about our status as an electricity generator (currently we are legal thanks to a general exemption from the requirements of the Electricity Industry Act 1993. However this exemption expires at the end of 1995). Michael Gunter has a copy of our submission to the Office of the Regulator-General for anybody whose interested. Citipower Negotiations: Still verbal at this stage. However we have invoiced them for power produced in April and May: lousy wind meant only $232.96 and $355.52. Since Citipower waits 6 weeks before sending the cheque, we still haven't received the first payment! Maintenance: The sign is currently leaning against the hut, but will be put on the 13th Beach Road frontage Sunday (weather permitting - the ground is quite wet at the moment). MG has not put his magnets on the brake pads, but the W/G seems to start OK in light winds now anyway. Please be very careful to allow enough clearance when adjusting the brake pads - the torque of the rotor is minute when stationary. The door of the meter hut has been weather-stripped to protect the DataTaker. Rotor balance: In light winds the rotor always seems to stall when blade#2 is at the 2 o'clock position, looking from the nacelle side - maybe we need to fill the other two with a bit of (low velocity) lead. Also, the tip of blade #2 seems to be making "creaking" noises in low speed - keep a careful eye on it please. Electrical: Michael replaced a 0.1 ohm shunt resistor in the analogue kW meter (base of tower-instant readout). The old one looked nearly burnt-out due to heavy current from the current transformer. A wire on the current transformer there also had to be re-soldered. Remote start/stop: Wires which according to the circuit diagram are supposed to be for remote starting and stopping of the W/G do not have any effect when shorted together. This is another little teaser to investigate on Sunday. Maybe they have to be connected together before the microprocessor is turned on? Advertising: We really need a promotional brochure or A4 flyer to stick in shop windows, Tourist Information Centres, service stations, etc. promoting windpower generally and Breamlea in particular. The monthly open day has to be mentioned prominently. Any takers on this one? Fine Tuning: Michael Gunter has obtained (from Mobil) detailed advice and a viscosity graph for mineral and synthetic gear oils. It would seem that the VG 320 oil currently in the main gearbox has a viscosity index (VI) of 100. It gets quite thin at high temperatures. If we put in a lower viscosity synthetic oil (eg SHC 629: VG =150) with a high VI of 150 and put cooling fins on the gearbox, then the viscosity can be kept above 75 cSt if the temperature of the gearbox can be kept below 55degC. This is the same viscosity as the 320 grade oil at 70degC - the sort of temperature probably reached on days with heatwave conditions and a strong northerly wind.