A Hybrid Solar-Wind Power Generation System as an Instructional Resource for Industrial Technology Students

The detailed study of electrical power systems is a key element of many curricula in Industrial Technology. A novel laboratory set-up has been designed and implemented at the University of Northern Iowa as an instructional resource for teaching electrical power system and renewable energy concepts. The set-up consists of a photo-voltaic solar-cell array, a mast mounted wind generator, lead-acid storage batteries, an inverter unit to convert DC power to AC power, electrical lighting loads and electrical heating loads, several fuse and junction boxes and associated wiring, and test instruments for measuring voltages, currents, power factors, and harmonic contamination data throughout the system. This hybrid solar-wind power generating system is extensively used to illustrate electrical concepts in hands-on laboratories and demonstrations in the Industrial Technology curriculum.