Author(s)

Federico Hahn, Mauricio Pablo, José Reyes

Department of Irrigation, Universidad Autonoma Chapingo, Texcoco, México.

Instrumented towers are being constructed to characterize vertical wind profiles in order to improve the understanding and characterization of a desired environment up to 100 m. The site being measured is at a height of 2500 m over sea level, in one side of Sierra Madre Oriental, which crosses Mexico from North to South. As the site has no energy, it was powered by a photovoltaic system. Power consumption of two sets of sensors fixed at the tower was evaluated. The first sensor set consisted of a pulsed anemometer and a RH sensor having a 0 - 10 V output; these sensors used cables for transmitting the output signals. Three cup anemometers fixed at 25, 35 and 45 m high measured wind speed. Wireless sensors in the second set, requires of a power consumption and battery life study. Solar cells energized the sensors, becoming the installation and operation easier. The datalogger that acquired the RH and T measurements encountered an 11% voltage loss throughout the cable; cup anemometer measurements did not show variations due to its pulsed signals. Wireless sensors drew less energy from the PV system, resulting in battery overcharge. A dump regulator turned-on a 200 W lamp during the night when the battery voltage reached 14 V; the lamp was turned-off when the battery voltage felt beneath 11.5 V. Considering the high wind available, wireless sensors batteries were charged by small wind turbines combined with 5 W solar panels.

Wind Tower, Wireless Anemometers, Battery Regulator

Hahn, F. , Pablo, M. and Reyes, J. (2014) Solar Driven Wind Speed Monitoring System Using Wireless or Wired Sensors. Energy and Power Engineering, 6, 213-221. doi: 10.4236/epe.2014.69019.