WIND TURBINE PERFORMANCE

MEASURES
Part B
Module 1 Wind Energy

POWER COEFFICIENT
Indicates the fraction of power
available in the wind that is
produced as electrical output:

=
1
0 3
2

Depends on wind speed and on

rotor speed

Characterize rotor speed by tip

speed ratio:
2
=
0

where: R = blade radius

N = rotor speed (rpm)
= air density
V0 = upstream wind speed

PERFORMANCE
CHARACTERISTICS

Ideal Glauert
0.5
Betz limit

Power coefficient CP

Power coefficient vs
Tip speed ratio
Representative CP max
Tip speed ratio
operating range

0.6

0.4

Dutch

0.3

Muitiblade

0.2

Savonius

0.1

2 blade
Darrieus
Propeller

0
0

Tip speed ratio

POWER OUTPUT VS. WIND SPEED

4000
3500

Power Output (kW)

Electrical power
output
Cut-in wind speed
Cut-out wind speed

3.6 MW Wind Turbine Power Output

Cut-in wind
speed

3000
2500

Cut-out
wind speed

2000
1500
1000
500
0
0

10

15

20

Wind Speed (m/s)

25

30

GENERATOR POWER LIMITATION

Here 3.6 MW
Prevents burnout of
generator

4000
3500

Power Output (kW)

Maximum output is
limited by electrical
generator capacity

3.6 MW Wind Turbine Power Output

3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
0

10

15

20

Wind Speed (m/s)

25

30

POWER LIMIT 2
Power/Rotor Area (arbitrary units)

Turbine rotor power increases

with V3
Generator power absorption
limited by ability to dissipate
heat.
Practical limitations on
size/weight of generator
Compromise between power
capacity and size/weight

Betz limit power

generator power
limit
Power limited
wind turbine

10

15

Wind speed (m/s)

20

RATED SPEED

here, 12.9 m/s

Power/Rotor Area (arbitrary units)

The lowest wind speed at

which the wind turbine
produces its maximum
rated power output

generator power limit

Power limited wind turbine

Rated
wind speed

10

15

Wind speed (m/s)

20

MECHANICAL POWER LIMITATION

Reduction required shown

Active blade pitch control

Change blade pitch angle

0.4

Power coefficient CP

How to limit power output

developed by rotor?
Reduce power coefficient

0.45
0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
0

10
Wind speed (m/s)

20

CAPACITY FACTOR EQUIPMENT UTILIZATION

Depends on local wind conditions as well as equipment performance!

=


=

8760

Example: Offshore with 9.5m/s average wind speed

17000
=
= 0.539 53.9%

3.6
8760

WIND TURBINE PERFORMANCE MEASURES

SUMMARY
CP and TSR characterize wind turbine performance at an individual
wind speed
Manufacturers typically provide wind turbine performance
characteristics in the form of power output vs wind speed data
A variety of types of wind turbines are available and each has
advantages and disadvantages
Capacity factor (CF) is an important measure of in-use performance
Depends on the local wind conditions and the wind turbine
performance

PRACTICE EXERCISES

REFERENCES AND PHOTO CREDITS

"Eoliennes Gaspesie" by guillom - Own work. Licensed under Creative Commons

Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eoliennes_Gaspesie.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Eoli
ennes_Gaspesie.jpg
H-Darrieus-Rotor by Stahlkocker, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:H-DarrieusRotor.jpg#mediaviewer/File:H-Darrieus-Rotor.jpg. Licensed under Creative Commons
Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Taiwan 2009 JinGuaShi Historic Gold Mine Combined Darrieus Savonius Wind Turbines
FRD 8638" by Fred Hsu,
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Taiwan_2009_JinGuaShi_Historic_Gold_Mine_
Combined_Darrieus_Savonius_Wind_Turbines_FRD_8638.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Taiwan
_2009_JinGuaShi_Historic_Gold_Mine_Combined_Darrieus_Savonius_Wind_Turbines_
FRD_8638.jpg. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 via
Wikimedia Commons