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Required Hardware
To run WinSite you will need a PC with at least an 486-based processor. At least 16 MB of
RAM is required, and more is recommended.
To read RAM cards with WinSite, the RAM Card Reader must be connected to a
communications port on your computer, either COM1 or COM2. Higher-numbered COM
ports are not supported by WinSite. You may need a 25-to-9-pin adapter to complete the
physical connection between the cable and the computer.
Any Windows-supported printer will work with WinSite. WinSite print output has been
successfully tested on laser printers, dot-matrix printers, and color inkjet printers.
Required Software
WinSite operates reliably under Windows 9x, ME, NT, 2000, and XP.
The standard Windows VGA driver works fine with WinSite. Your video display should support
at least 16 colors in at least 640 x 480 resolution.
Troubleshooting: If you print a graph that does not show the shaded region with crosshatch
fill on paper as it did on the screen, you may need to change your video driver. Custom video
accelerator cards can cause this problem, as they are not recognized by WinSite. The generic
VGA and SVGA drivers distributed with Windows will work with WinSite as it is designed.
Data Retrieval
Data Retrieval is comprised of two steps to bring your data from a RAM card or directly from
the NOMADs data buffer, to report-ready form. Once the first step is completed, your RAM
card, or NOMAD data buffer, is ready for erasure and re-use. WinSite makes this processing
easy.
The first step in the Data Retrieval module allows you to read data and save it in an SWI
format .dat file. The .dat file can then be converted into a spreadsheet importable (.prn),
ASCII importable (.frn), text (.txt), or MS Access
database (.mdb), or FORTRAN file (.frn). This function allows for selective conversion
of files to these formats.
To Archive NOMAD data:
Click the Archive button. Highlight the dataset (.dat file) you want to convert. Note: WinSite
uses the default directory set using the Configuration function for file name selection. Click OK.
WinSite 3
Once the .dat file is selected, the Select Tracks window will open and the tracks that are
contained in the dataset can be viewed and selected. Click on each desired track or all tracks.
Click the Proceed button to open the Data Targets window.
The Data Targets window provides conversion of the .dat file into Access
database format
(.mdb) for use with WinSite, a text file (.txt), spreadsheet importable (.prn), or FORTRAN
(.frn) file for compatibility with your existing software.
Choose these options by clicking on the section box next to each choice. This function allows
for multiple selections, limiting redundant operations. If more than one selection is chosen
the translations will be performed sequentially.
Click the Proceed button to open a file dialog window where you can select the file name,
target drive, and directory for the translations. WinSite uses the default directory set in the
Program Configuration for file name selection.
Adding to an Existing WinSite Database
WinSite allows data files to be joined together to create one continuous file. This is useful to
create reports for extended periods, and to add missing data from one site to a database for
a nearby site. WinSite also keeps a record of the files that have been joined in Dataset
Configuration. WinSite allows extensive flexibility in adding to your database. The time periods
do not need to be contiguous, and all reports and graphs are set up to cleanly accommodate
missing data. Previously existing data is never overwritten. If a new dataset contains data
from an existing date or time, that data will be ignored and only data with new dates and
times will be included in the database.
To add to an existing WinSite database:
Choose two .dat files. They MUST be from the same site and NOMAD, and they must have
identical configurations in both inputs and functions. The one exception is if the dataset to be
added has the same tracks as the original dataset, as well as additional tracks. WinSite Data
Retrieval allows you to select which tracks to archive, so by selecting tracks present only in the
original dataset, they may be merged.
Archive the track(s) from the first .dat file to create an .mdb file. This .mdb file will become
the merged .mdb file, so be sure to name it appropriately.
Archive the identical track(s) from the second .dat file using the name of the existing .mdb
file. The data will be merged in the proper sequence. The Dataset Configuration feature will
display the datasets that have been merged into a single database using WinSite.
WinSite 4
Reports and Graphs
The Reports and Graphs section allows you to process data, review it, and produce presentation-
quality printed output. Many of these reports and graphs have parameters, options, and
outputs in common. For example, you may produce a Time Series graph of a dataset using
the Time Series Function or the Monthly Report.
All reports and graphs require the selection of a database file (.mdb format). Database files
may be selected from any directory in the file dialog window. Once a database is selected, it
will continue to be the database in use until another database is selected. The Select Interval
box will indicate the interval averaging period for the tracks of data in the dataset. The
function of the graph or report may require specific inputs. Other requirements for each
report are presented at the bottom of the first window that opens following the selection of
the database. These requirements are:
WinSite 5
A Wind Direction Filter is provided for the Power Curve and Wind Speed Distribution allowing
the user to specify a limited compass range with which to evaluate the report or graph.
Clicking twice on the compass rose will set the range to be evaluated, with 16 compass points
available. The first mouse click will set the start of the range and the second click will set the
end of the range. The compass rose will fill in a clockwise direction. For example, if the first
click is South and the second click is East, the area to be evaluated will include winds from
the South, West, North and East, but will exclude the Southeast, East-Southeast, and South-
Southeast.
Function
Wind Rose
Power Curve
Monthly Report
Wind Speed Distribution
Diurnal Average
w/Std Deviation
Time Series
Expected Energy
Required
Average wind speed and
average wind direction
Wind speed
Any track
Average wind speed
Any track except
wind direction
Any track
Average wind speed
Optional
Power, reference curve,
state
Average wind direction
Average wind direction
A Time Range window is usually displayed allowing the user to select the range of data
desired. The earliest and latest times are automatically determined from the database, allowing
for selection of any range between those two times. This range is chosen by changing the
dates within the Start and End Time fields. Hours are given in military time (00:00 to 23:00).
An item that needs to be changed can be highlighted by pressing <Tab>, the arrow keys, or
using the mouse. The highlighted item can then be changed by entering the desired number
from the keyboard, raising or lowering it by pressing the Up/Down arrow keys, or by clicking
on the Up/Down arrows located on the right of the Start and End Time fields. The times and
dates entered are not inclusive. For example: 07/01/2001 10:00 to 07/02/2001 10:00
represents one day (24 hours) of hourly data. To include all of a day or month, use 00:00
(12:00 a.m.) of the first day you want to include and 00:00 of the day after the desired period.
The input(s) chosen and the time range selected are presented on the report or graph when
it is displayed. Total Hours and Data Hours are also shown. Total Hours represents the total
time selected for evaluation. Data Hours indicates the amount of time during which data is
presented in a graph or report. For example, if a distribution of winds from the South for the
month of March is selected, Total Hours is the total number of hours in March. Data Hours
is the amount of time in March that winds were from the South. Fewer Data Hours than Total
Hours may also indicate missing data.
Common options include Print Graph, Export Data, and Print Data. These options also
allow comments to be added to the report or graph to be printed or exported. Return is a
selection that allows the user to perform the same function with other tracks or intervals.
Export Data saves the results of your report or graph in .wns spreadsheet importable format.
This format was designed for easy transfer to MS Excel
worksheets.
To import WinSite .wns data into Excel
:
1) From Excel, open the file you want to convert. This will activate the Import Wizard.
2) The Import Wizard will inform you, correctly, that your data is delimited. Use the default
options of delimited data, starting from Row 1, origin Windows. Click Next.
3) Click to select the .wns delimiters: tab (default) and comma. Use the default text qualifier
of double quotes. Click Next.
4) Assign column formatting. In most cases, you will accept the default (general) for all
columns. The exceptions are the first column in the Time Series and Monthly Report
functions, which are dates. Click Finish to view the imported worksheet.
WinSite lets you minimize any graph or report for later recall. This feature allows you to
compare results from different graphs. For example, you can compare two different sites or
two different anemometer heights.
WinSite 6
The Wind Rose displays the wind speed/direction distribution of the wind around the 16
compass points during any time interval. The center of the rose consists of 16 vectors whose
directions are each of the 16 compass points and whose magnitudes represent the number
of data points that fall within that sector.
To create a Wind Rose:
1) Click the Select Database button, highlight the desired file (.mdb) and click OK.
2) Select the Wind Rose icon to open another window allowing for selection of the interval
and tracks to be displayed in the Wind Rose. You must select one average wind speed
track and one average wind direction track to complete the calculations.
3) Select the desired Time Range. Click OK to display the Wind Rose graphic.
The center graph displays in Wind Rose format, autoscaled for the relative percentage of
wind from each compass direction. The smaller line graphs surrounding the Wind Rose are
wind speed distributions for each wind direction. Each graph is individually autoscaled.
Therefore, the y-axis (hours) scale will probably vary from graph to graph.
Options. After the Wind Rose is displayed, it may be printed or exported, or select Return to
create other Wind Rose displays. Export provides for the creation of a spreadsheet with data
distributed by wind speed and direction. The exported report consists of the hours for each
wind speed and wind direction in tabular format. The spreadsheet will indicate any notes that
you made in WinSite before exporting, the site name and number, and details of the dataset.
Another option is to keep the current Wind Rose open and create another one for comparison.
Create a second display of the wind speed distribution through the WinSite menu and, by
utilizing the Windows feature of moving or minimizing a display, view it simultaneously with
the original Wind Rose.
Wind Rose
The WinSite Wind Rose is unique to WinSite. This powerful graphic displays the full data
selection in a Wind Rose in three contrasting colors, and wind speed distributions for each of
16 compass directions. This presentation is rich in information, and flexible for many uses.
WinSite lets you view additional reports side by side with the Wind Rose.
WinSite 7
WinSite 8
Monthly Report
The Monthly Report provides a chart and a Time Series graph as a quick and convenient
summary of the data. This may be the summary feature you use most often. WinSite groups
data in a database by calendar month, and reports hourly averages. Hourly averages are
created from tracks with averaging intervals smaller than one hour. You can use Monthly
Report for the data tracks most important for your progress reports, such as wind speed and
standard deviation. As in the NOMAD data logger, average wind direction values are calculated
using vector averaging, not arithmetic averaging. This assures an accurate representation of
wind direction. A Monthly Report can also be made for data covering part of a month.
The Monthly Report shows the data for any input for each hour of any given calendar month.
This report can display information such as average wind speed, average temperature, or
wind speed average deviation over the period of the selected month.
To create a Monthly Report:
1) Click the Select Database button, highlight the desired file (.mdb) and click OK.
2) Click the Monthly Report icon to open a window allowing for the selection of the interval,
month, and track to be displayed on the Monthly Report graph. Click OK. The data intervals
available from tracks stored at hourly, or less frequent intervals will be displayed. After
selecting intervals, select the month from the list of partial and complete months shown.
Finally, select the data track and click OK.
Options: After the Monthly Report is displayed, it is possible to print the graph, export data,
show the report, or produce another Monthly Report. Click Show Report for an opportunity to
visually inspect the values and make comments on the table before printing. This quality
control step will reduce the chance of erroneous data going undetected. The exported report
will be identical to the displayed table.
Power Curve
WinSite allows you to process and graph turbine performance information collected with
your NOMAD. You can measure turbine performance or compare your results with the
manufacturers reference power curve.
The Power Curve Function has several purposes. The primary purpose is to summarize and
graph field measurement results of wind turbine performance. In addition, the Power Curve
Function is a useful supplement to the Expected Energy Report because it also plots a user-
specified wind frequency distribution. This renders a visual display of the suitability of a sites
wind to a turbines power curve.
To create an Operational Power Curve:
1) Click the Select Database button, highlight the desired file (.mdb) and click OK.
2) Click the Power Curve icon to open another window where you can select the interval and
tracks to be displayed on the Power Curve. Choose at least one average wind speed and
one average power. If wind direction data is present, a Wind Direction Filter is provided,
allowing you to specify a limited compass range with which to evaluate the Power Curve.
To display On-Line and Total Power Curves, a State track must be selected. Selecting this
option will result in the display of two Power Curves identified by triangular and rectangular
symbols respectively. On-Line Power is the average power at that wind speed when the turbine
was running (omitting times the turbine was off-line, but the wind was at that wind speed).
Total Power includes zero entries from when the turbine was off-line, as well as operating
power.
Additionally, a Reference Power Curve may be selected to be displayed, but is not necessary
to complete this function. Checking the box next to Reference Power Curve will make this
operational. See Reference Power Curve on page 10 for more information.
Once all tracks and options are chosen, click OK.
Select the desired Time Range. Click OK to display the Power Curve. The particular display
will depend on the tracks and options chosen.
The display of a Wind Speed Distribution Curve can be selected by checking the box next to
Display Wind Speed Distribution. The Wind Speed Distribution Curve displayed with the
Power Curve provides a display of the distribution of the wind. A visual comparison with the
power curve will show the duration and significance of the experiment. This option can be
turned off by clearing the check box.
WinSite 9
Reference Power Curve
Reference Power Curves differ from Operational Power Curves in that they represent
manufacturers specifications, not operational field data. There are two ways to display
Reference Power Curves. The Power Curve Function and the Power Curve Utility can both be
used to display Reference Power Curves. For more information about the Power Curve Utility,
see page 14.
The Reference Power Curve graph can be used to supplement the Expected Energy Report.
The Reference Power Curve function can be used to plot the turbine reference curve
superimposed on a wind frequency distribution. As in the Expected Energy Report, the Wind
Direction Filter can be used to compile a wind frequency distribution from a selected compass
range.
To display a Reference Curve with the Power Curve function, select Power Curve Function to
open a window where you can select the interval and tracks to be displayed on the Power
Curve. One average wind speed and the Reference Power Curve check box must be selected
before a Reference Power Curve can be displayed.
A dialog box titled Open will appear, where you can select a reference curve (.tpc). Note that
the power curve selected must be based on the same wind speed units as your wind speed
data: either metric (meters per second), or English (miles per hour). Once the reference curve
is chosen, click OK.
Select the desired Time Range. Click OK to and the Power Curve graph will be displayed with
the Reference Power Curve.
Options. After the Power Curve is displayed, you can print the graph, export data, print the
data, or perform another Power Curve operation. The exported report shows the selected values
for each wind speed.
WinSite 10
Wind Speed Distribution
WinSite enhances this standard graph, showing the relative amounts of wind at each speed.
The selection of winds coming from specified directions allows quick analysis of the wind
speeds under differing conditions.
The Wind Speed Distribution Report displays the percentage of data points at each wind
speed over any time interval. As a refinement of your wind resource assessment, you can
choose to use only wind data from a particular direction or from a range of directions by
using the Wind Direction Filter.
To create a Wind Speed Distribution Report:
1) Click the Select Database button, highlight the desired file (.mdb) and click OK.
2) Click the Wind Speed Distribution icon to open another window where you can select the
interval and tracks to be displayed on this report. If two wind speed tracks are highlighted
by the user, WinSite will select the last track of data highlighted.
3) Select the desired Time Range.
The Wind Direction Filter allows the user to specify a limited compass range to evaluate wind
speed distribution.
Click OK and the Wind Speed Distribution graphic will be processed. The graph will show the
percentage of time each wind speed was recorded during the period.
Options. After the Wind Speed Distribution Report is displayed, it is possible to print the
graph, print the data, export data, or produce another Wind Speed Distribution Report. The
exported report shows three columns: wind speed, percentage of total, and total hours.
Diurnal Average with Standard Deviation
You may want to use the Diurnal Average graphic to illustrate the pattern of the wind and its
match with patterns of energy consumption. The pattern of the wind, and the size of the
standard deviation have increasing impact on the value of wind-generated electricity.
The Diurnal Average with Standard Deviation Report shows the average value and 1 standard
deviation of any input, except a wind vane, for each hour of the day for any time period.
WinSite standard deviations are derived from the NOMAD data for each hour and should not
be confused with the standard deviations that NOMAD calculates and records. The display
consists of a vertical bar with three horizontal lines, one for the average and one each for the
+1 and -1 standard deviation. Standard deviation is a statistical measure of how far the data
varies from the average value.
WinSite 11
WinSite 12
To create a Diurnal Average with Standard Deviation Report:
1) Click the Select Database button, highlight the desired file (.mdb) and click OK.
2) Click the Diurnal Average w/Standard Deviation button to open another window where
you can select the interval and track to be displayed on this report. WinSite does not
support the processing of wind direction data in this manner, so wind vane tracks will not
be displayed.
3) Select the desired Time Range.
4) Click OK to display the Diurnal Average w/Standard Deviation graph.
Options. After the Diurnal Average graph is displayed it is possible to print the graph, export
data, print the data, or perform another Diurnal Average operation. The exported report
shows three columns: hour of day, average, and standard deviation.
Time Series
WinSite offers a very flexible Time Series function. Any measurement can be displayed over
any time period. WinSite will automatically scale the graph. This can be a powerful tool in
tracking the longer trends in large datasets, or in examining minute by minute variations in a
short experiment.
The Time Series Report provides a line graph that shows data trends over time. This is a very
flexible function that displays a graph of any track over any time period, where your data is
the y axis and time is the x axis. WinSite offers two presentations of the data, with two levels
of decimation or data resolution. The ratio of displayed data to actual data will appear in
the upper right of the line graph display.
If hot points are selected, data values are revealed by clicking on points on the graph. The
Time Series feature can be used for long or short time periods and the graph will scale
automatically.
The flexibility of the Time Series Report can be used to review and analyze data for quality
assurance purposes. You can quickly and easily plot the recorded average values for each
sensor to determine the likelihood of sensor failure during the interval. If failure of one sensor
is suspected, you should examine the data from all of the other data tracks around the time
that failure is suspected to find added clues to the problem. If you suspect wind sensor icing,
use the Time Series graph to plot the average temperature prior to and during the event. Icing
is often associated with a sudden drop in temperature. It is often very useful to compare
sensors of similar types. You can compare two anemometers to each other, for example, for
the same time period. A frozen wind direction sensor is easy to spot since the average wind
direction is never exactly the same for hours at a time.
To create a Time Series Report:
1) Click the Select Database button, highlight the desired file (.mdb) and click OK.
2) Click the Time Series Report button to open another window where you can select the
interval and track to be displayed on this report.
3) Select the desired Time Range.
Click OK and the Time Series Report graph will be processed.
If selected, hot points are displayed on the graph for visual access of data. Clicking on a
hot data point symbol will display a message with the value of the data at that point, as well
as the date and time of the data point being displayed.
Options. After the Time Series Report graphic is displayed it is possible to print the graph,
export data, print the data, or perform another Time Series operation. The exported report
shows two columns: the date and time, and the selected data. Excel