WIND-ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM SIMULATION PROGRAM.

This paper describes a program which was developed to simulate the operation and performance of a wind-energy conversion system (WECS) for a nonutility potential user, and to perform a lifecycle economic analysis. The system consists of a wind turbine in conjunction with purchased utility power and an optional energy storage system and heat engine. Because of the site-specific nature of WECS, the program parameters are characteristic of the WECS site being simulated; e. g. , the site's wind-velocity data, the nonutility owner's time-varying process energy requirements, the specific performance of the WECS installed equipment, and the owner's investment structure.