Lecture # 11
RENEWABLE ENERGY
TECHNOLOGIES
Dr. Muzaffar Ali
Wind Energy
Wind Energy – Some Practical Issues
Challenges of Wind Energy
➢ It is intermittent and unpredictable
◼ Wind turbine generator outputs are not controllable or
predictable. Wind energy alone cannot be relied upon as the
sole source of electricity.
➢ Wind farms occupy large areas.
◼ Places with high population densities and land limitation often
have difficulty finding the necessary space for wind farms.
➢ Wind turbines can impose adverse impact on the environment
Impact on migrating birds. Create noise, visual blight.
Transport
Transport (2)
Weights / Numbers
Tower : Number of Transport Trucks:
64.7m 86 tons Tower: 3
85m 98 tons Nacelle: 1
100m 113 tons Hub: 1
Blades: 3
Nacelle: 52 tons Total: 8
Hub: 14 tons
Blades: 21 tons For 50MW
→ 264 heavy trucks
50MW turbine with Hub
64.7m: 33 x 173 tons =
5,709 tons
Foundation
Crane
Tower installation
Tower installation
Nacelle and Blade installation
12
Transformer / Cable
13
Calculation of Wind Energy and Power
Calculation of Wind Energy and Power
The mass of air flowing with a velocity v through the rotor in time
interval ( t ) is m
m = ρ. A . v . t
= ρ . v . t . π . d2/4 d
K.E. = 0.5 . m . v 2
K.E. = 0.5 . ρ . v3. t . π . d2/4
Power = K.E / t vt
= 0.5 . ρ . V3 . π . d2/4
Power = ηg . ηt.0.5 ρ .v3 . π . d2/4
ρ = about 1.225 kg/m3 at sea level, less higher up
v = Wind speed m/s
d = Rotor diameter m
ηg = generator eff.
ηt = transmission eff.
Calculation of Wind Energy and Power
If we divide Power by the cross-sectional area (A) of the, then
we are left with the expression:
Power/A = 0.5 . ρ . V3
❑ It is clear from this expression that
The power is proportional to the cube of the wind speed.
❑
❑ The power per unit area does not depend on the size of the
turbine rotor. It depends on the air density and wind speed
❑ The term Pwr/A is called the "Wind Power Density"
(WPD) and has units of watts/m2.
Calculation of Wind Energy and Power
The average wind speed through the rotor
vav = (v1 +v2 )/2
The mass of air streaming through
the rotor during one second
m = A ρ (v1 +v2 )/2
where m is the mass per second,
ρ is the density of air,
A is the swept rotor area.
The power extracted from the wind by the rotor
P = (1/2) m (v12 - v22 )
Substituting m into this expression
P = (ρ /4) (v12 - v22 ) (v1 +v2 ) A
the total power in the wind streaming through the same area A
P0 = (ρ /2) v13 A
Maximum Wind Turbine Efficiency
❑ Wind Turbine Efficiency
The efficiency of a wind turbine is defined as
ηwt = Pwt / Pwind = P/ Po
ηwt = (P/P0 ) = (1/2) [1 - (v2 / v 1 )2 ] [1 + (v2 / v1 )]
❑ Optimum Wind Turbine Efficiency
❑ The only parameter which affects the wind turbine efficiency
in the previous equation is the speed ratio v2/v1.
❑ For the condition for maximum power extracted from the
wind by the rotor dηwt / d(v2 /v1) must be equal to zero
d ηwt / d(v2 /v1) = 0
½ [1-2 (v2 /v1) -3 (v2 /v-1) 2 ] = 0
(v2 /v1) = 1/3
ηwt(max) = (1/2).(1-1/9)(1+1/3) = (1/2).8/9.4/3 = 16/27= 0.59
Tips Speed Ratio (TSR)
❑ Is the ratio of the speed at the tip of the wind turbine blade to
the wind speed and is given by
TSR = ω rrotor / v
Where ω : rotational speed of the turbine rotor = 2.π.n /60
n : rotor RPM
rrotor : radius of the rotor
v : wind speed
❑ The Tip Speed Ratio (often known as the TSR) is of vital
importance in the design of wind turbine generators
❑ If the rotor of the wind turbine turns too slowly, most of the
wind will pass undisturbed through the gap between the rotor
blades.
❑ If the rotor turns too quickly, the blades will appear like a solid
wall to the wind.
❑ Therefore, wind turbines are designed with optimal tip speed
ratios to extract as much power out of the wind as possible.
❑ The optimum tip speed ratio depends on the number of blades
in the wind turbine rotor.
❑ The fewer the number of blades, the faster the wind turbine
rotor needs to turn to extract maximum power from the wind.
❑ The relation between Wind Turbine efficiency and TSR
found as in the figure
Turbine Efficiency
Tip Speed Ratio
Tips Speed Ratio (TSR)
❑ Curve fit equations for this graph have been developed and are
given below.
❑ American Multiblade Wind Turbine
for TSR 1.75 : wt = 0.39105( TSR)2 + 0.66586( TSR) + 0.026583
for TSR 1.75 : wt = 0
❑ Darrieus Wind Turbine
for TSR 4.6 : wt = 0
for 4.6 TSR 6.86 : wt = −0.078369( TSR ) 2 + 0.92146( TSR )
− 2.3532
for TSR 6.86 : wt = 0
❑ Modern Three-blade Wind Turbine
for TSR 2.95 : wt = 0
for 2.95 TSR 5.4 : wt = −0.020554( TSR ) 2 + 0.18327( TSR )
− 0.023286
for TSR 5.4 : wt = 0
❑ Ideal Wind Turbine
for 0.5 TSR 1.0 : wt = 0.196( TSR) + 0.23233
for 1.0 TSR 1.5 : wt = 0.104( TSR) + 0.32433
for 1.5 TSR 2.5 : wt = 0.055( TSR) + 0.399
for 2.5 TSR 4.0 : wt = 0.022( TSR) + 0.481
for TSR 4.0 : wt = 0.004( TSR) + 0.5532
Effect of Elevation on Wind Speed
❑ To calculate the wind speed at certain height, if it is
known at another height, we can use
n
h2
v 2 = v 1
h1
❑ where n is the ground surface friction coefficient and takes on
different values according to the nature of the terrain.
❑ Some example values are
water or smooth flat ground : n = 0.1
tall crops : n = 0.2
city downtown : n = 0.4
Altitude Varying Wind Speed
Power Law Equation 1
y 7
Where
v = v 1
v1 Wind speed data y1
y1 Normalized height
v Modified wind speed
y Height of the turbine
Logarithmic Velocity Distribution Equation
y
v = v 1 log
Where
v1 Shear wind speed
yo
yo Surface roughness
v Modified wind speed
y Height of the turbine
yo
The Cut In and Cut Out Wind Speed
❑ Usually, wind turbines are designed to start running at wind
speeds somewhere around 3 to 5 metres per second.
❑ This is called the cut in wind speed.
❑ The wind turbine will be programmed to stop at high wind
speeds above, say 25 metres per second, in order to avoid
damaging the turbine or its surroundings.
❑ The stop wind speed is called the cut out wind speed.
Wind Turbine Locations
❑ Wind turbines can also be classified by the location in which they
are to be used.
❑ Wind turbines can be either onshore or offshore.
❑ Offshore wind development zones are generally considered to be
between 4000 and 8000 meters from land.
❑ Offshore wind turbines are less obtrusive than turbines on land,
as their apparent size and noise can be mitigated by distance.
❑ Because water has less surface roughness than land the average
wind speed is usually considerably higher over open water.
Onshore wind farms continue to make up the majority of wind
farms around the world.
➢ Advantages
▪ Lower construction costs compared with offshore wind farms.
▪ Easy access for maintenance.
▪ Relatively convenient to connect to power grids.
➢ Constraints
▪ Height restrictions for hilltop wind turbines.
▪ Unsteady wind conditions
▪ Over noise and visual impact on the environment.
Offshore are typically constructed in regions with high population
densities with few suitable sites.
➢ Advantages
▪ Steadier and stronger supply of wind than onshore wind farms.
▪ Less visual impact
▪ Less likely to be affected by height restrictions than hilltop wind
turbines.
▪ Lower surface roughness:
▪ Less turbulence-induced fatigue for longer turbine life
➢ Constraints
▪ Higher construction costs, subject to water depth restrictions
(most existing off-shore installations are in waters shall lower than
20 meters.
Economic Factors
▪ Wind Speed
▪ Turbine design and construction
▪ Rated capacity of the turbine
▪ Exact Location
▪ Plant Size: equipment,
installation and O&M economies
of scale
▪ Improvements in turbine design
▪ Capital
Determinants of Cost of Energy
▪ Total installed costs
➢ Turbines, Foundations, Electrical System
➢ Installation
▪ Energy produced
➢ Wind resource
➢ Turbine operating characteristics
➢ Turbine spacing
▪ Operation and Maintenance (O & M)
➢ Scheduled maintenance and repairs
▪ Financial considerations (interest rates, etc.)
Cost vs. Speed
Cost vs. Size
Assuming the
same wind
speed of 8.08
m/s, a large wind
farm is more
economical
Breakdown of Capital Cost
THANKS
