Measurements of atmospheric electricity aloft

Measurements of the electrical characteristics of the atmosphere above the surface have been made for over 200 years, from a variety of different platforms, including kites, balloons, rockets and aircraft. From these measurements, a great deal of information about the electrical characteristics of the atmosphere has been gained, assisting our understanding of the global atmospheric electric circuit, thunderstorm electrification and lightning generation mechanisms, discovery of transient luminous events above thunderstorms, and many other electrical phenomena. This paper surveys the history of atmospheric electrical measurements aloft, from the earliest manned balloon ascents to current day observations with free balloons and aircraft. Measurements of atmospheric electrical parameters in a range of meteorological conditions are described, including clear air conditions, polluted conditions, non-thunderstorm clouds, and thunderstorm clouds, spanning a range of atmospheric conditions, from fair weather, to the most electrically active

Operation of allgaier type (6-8)KW wind electric generator at Porbandar

The Allgaier wind Electric Generator presented to the Wind Power Division of the National Aeronautical Laboratory by the West German Government is described briefly in this paper. It is capable of giving 6 Kd on 220 Volts D.C. at a wind speed of about 32 kilometres per hour. This equipment is installed at an Agricultural Farm at Porbandar (Lat. 21'38' N Long. 69' 37' El, where a Diesel operated pump is at present working for supplying water for irrigation13; purposes, The meteorological conditions including13; detailed information about the wind speed are given13; for Porbandar. The mean power output from the Wind13; Electric Generator for different periods of the13; day during the year are also given. The cost per DIH13; electricity with the wind Electric Generator without13; employing a battery works out to 28 nPs, if energy13; is based only during the daylight hours of morning 0830 to 1730 IST

Observations in India of turbulence in the upper air from sounding balloon ascents

The paper describes the special features of the F-type radiosonde in distinguishing from the rotation of the fan whether the downward movement of the radiosonde balloon is due to a strong vertical downward current or due to the accumulation of snow. It shows how the rate of rotation of the fan can be used to identify regions of turbulence in the atmosphere. The observations of the turbulence with the F-type radiosonde are compared with the inferences drawn by turbasondes in the U.S.A. and the Dines meteorograph records in India, The regions where turbulence may be observed in India have been indicated. The existence of severe turbulence in the upper troposphere and in the stratosphere has been emphasised

Performance of the 6-8 KW Allgaier wind electric generator at porbandar

The performance of the Allgaier 6-8 kW wind electric generator at a site in the Khapat Agricultural Farm in Porbandar has been examined. The actual electric energy produced a t various wind speeds has been13; compared with the energy calculated on the basis of the power-speed characteristics of the generator, supplied by the manufacturers. Ihe cost of power has also been estimated. The cost per kWh works out to 19 nP. without battery and 45 nP.with battery. The cost of pumping 1,000 gallons of water works out to 12 nP. a s against 35 nP. in the case of a 10 h.p. diesel engine working alongside the wind electric generator

Utilisation of wind power for irrigation of crops in India with special reference to the distribution of wind and rainfall

The need for increasing food production in India, through an13; increase in area under irrigation cannot be overemphasised. Utilization of wind power for minor irrigation using windmills would be very helpful, particularly in areas under irrigation from wells. Two types of direct water-pumping windmills, viz., the WP-1 and the WP-2. have been developed in the National Aeronautical Laboratory, Bangalore. The monthly quantities of water that can be pumped by a WP-2 windmill at 16 places in India have been computed, based on the mean hourly wind speeds at these places. fall at these places shows that at most of the places under study, the water pumped is B maximum when the rainfall is minimum.13; Comparison of the water pumped against the monthly rainfall at these places shows that at most of the places under study,the water pumped is a maximum when the rainfall is minimum. The trials with a 6 kW, 220 volts D.C. Allgaier wind electric generator, at an agricultural farm at Porbandar for pumping water for irrigation show that the cost of pumping water is less than half that by a 10 H.P. Diesel Engine

Utilisation of wind power in ARID and SEMI-ARID areas in India

Utilisation of wind power through windmills and wind electronic generators has a vast scope in the development of the arid and semi-arid areas in India. Direct water pumping windmills can make a substantial contribution in supplying water for domestic purposes, live stock and minor irrigation in many villages of Rajasthan. The WP-2 type of water pumping windmill designed and developed in the National Aeronautical Laboratory, Bangalore, is useful in regions of low and moderate wind speeds. The average wind speed at most cf the places in Rajasthan during the summer months, which are the windiest, varies from 12 to 18 km.p.h. and the windmill gives its optimum output in this range of wind speeds. The wind speed data available for five stations in Rajasthan have been analysed and the monthly quantities of water that can be pumped by a WP-2 windmill through a height of 10 metres have been worked out for these stations. It is seen that the WP-2 windmill can pump about 15,000 gal. of water per day through a height of 10 metres under favourable wind speeds during summer months. The economics of operation of WP-2 windmills at these places has also been studied.13; An examination of the monthly quantities of water pumped against the monthly rainfall shows that a t all places studied the water pumped is a maximum during the summer months, i.e., from April to July when water is needed most.13; A study of the characteristics of wind electric generators of different capacities ranging from 1 kW to 25 kW. in relation to the wind regime in Rajasthan shows that wind electric generators in the range of 2-5 kW are comparatively economical

A notice on the feasibility of wind generation of electric power for communication links in India13;

The power requirements of solid-state microwave radio links are very low, and could be adequately met by storage batteries charged by small wind electric generators. This would be possible at sites that a r e sufficiently windy to operate the generator to give a stable output. Wind electric generators in this range are not commercially available in this country at present. The paper describes a wind electric generator designed in the Laboratory for this purpose. The estimates of output in watt-hours using such a generator at five stations in India have also been computed in the paper

Windmill types considered suitable for large scale use in India

The paper states briefly the economic, climatic and human factors peculiar to India on which the use of wind power dzpends. It is shown that the urgent need of power is for water in the widely distributed villages of India for drink13; ing and minor irrigation purposes. Considering the various sources of energy and the rapid technical developments now taking place, any programme in the employment of wind as a source of power may also undergo rapid changes and as such a vast country like India with its technological development can afford only simple and cheap equipment. The conventional multibladed wimimill is, therefore, considered most suitable at present and it has been designed to operate 5-6 miles per hour; it is also capable of being constructed indigenously. The paper discusses briefly the future developments in windmill design to suit Indian conditions.Since India is not a place of very high winds such as, Northern Europe or the north of England it is felt that a national approach would be to experiment with small wind electric generators of about 1-5 KW capacity and develop their use in rural areas, the primary need being pumping water. the paper also states some of the special problems of windmill design in connection with the occurrences of cyclic storms and squalls associated with thunderstorms. the programme of research and development proposed to be undertaken in connection with wind power are stated