Overview of Wind Energy Tech

1. Explain in detail, the concept of the Betz limit and give its value.
The German physicist Albert Betz created the concept of the Betz limit in 1919.
This law states that the wind turbine can only convert the maximum value of 16/27,
which corresponds to 59.3%, of the kinetics energy of wind into mechanical energy
in the rotor.
The wind turbines can extract the energy from wind when the wind passes through
the turbine. To extract the energy, the wind turbines need to bar the wind coming
through. However, to have 100% of efficiency, all the mass of wind should be
barred by the wind turbine, but this is impossible because if the efficiency is 100%,
there will be no wind leaving the turbine. The figure 1 illustrates the law of Betz,
showing the wind entering and leaving the turbine. (1) (2)
2. What ratio of down-stream to up-stream wind velocities generates the

maximum rotor efficiency?
dCp
To have the maximum rotor efficiency,
must be defined and set to zero.
d
1
The result for this is equal to
. Remembering that
3
v downwind velocity
, this result means that, in order to have maximum
= d =
v
upwind velocity
rotor
Figure 1: <http://www.aerogeradores.org/limitedebetz.php>
1
of the total upwind velocity.
3
For example, if the upwind velocity is 3m/s, the downwind velocity must be 1m/s.
efficiency, the downstream velocity needs to be
3. Define the tip-speed-ratio, why this is important, and what is the optimum
value range for large 3-blade turbines?
The tip-speed ratio is the ratio of the tip speed of blade to wind speed. This is
important because the rotor efficiency also depends on the rotation blades speed.
When the blades are too fast, turbulence in one blade may affect the next blade,
and if they are too slow, too much wind will pass through the blades with being
converted in energy. In order to maximize the rotor efficiency, the tip-speed-ratio
must be used.
To define the optimum tip-speed-ratio for maximum power, we have the following
power
4
max
=
formula:
(3)
n
Optimum tip speed ratio

Thus, the Optimum Tip-Speed-Ratio for 3-blade turbine will be between 4 and 5.
4. Define the optimum spacing of towers for a wind farm in flat open terrain
constructed with wind turbines of 30m blade diameters.
According to the figure 2, the distance between the rows must be between 5 and 9
diameters, and the distance between each wind turbine must be 3-5 diameters.
Thus, assuming 7 diameters to the distance between the rows and 4 diameters
between each wind turbine, with a diameter of 30m, we have:
210 meters of distance between the rows, and
120 meters of distance between each wind turbine.
Figure 2: Lecture Topic 09 - Wind Power System Design

5. What are the units of Wind Power Density?
The Wind Power Density is given by the equation:
1
Power Density= v 3 , where
2
the units are given in the SI units:

in kg/m2,
v in m/s, and finally
Power Density in Watts per area or W/m2.
6. What environmental factors affect air density?

The temperature and the atmospheric pressure (the altitude) are the biggest
factors that can affect the air density. In order to correct the air density according to
the temperature and altitude, we can use the following equation:
=1.225 K t K a , where Kt is the density ratio correlated with the temperature, and
the Ka is the pressure ratio correlated with the altitude.
7. What is the approx. cost per kilowatt-hour for current wind production? See
the .ppt or AWEA web site
According to American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), the cost of wind
production is around US$40/MWh, which means US$0.04kWh. (4)
8. How many wind power classes are there? Measured at a 30m location, if
the wind blows at 14.5mph, what class is this? If it blows at 8.2m/s, what
class is this? Use the AWEA 30m table values.
According to the Table 1 Wind Power Classes on the Wind Power Classifications
Section in the lecture, there are 7 wind power classes.
For 30m location and 14.5mph: Class 3
For 30m location and 8.2m/s: Class 6
9. Describe in detail the concept or process of how a wind turbine creates

electrical energy.
Basically, the wind turbine transforms the wind that passes through the blades as a
kinetic energy in a mechanical energy, which makes the blades rotate. When the
blades rotate, the electrical energy has been generated. To achieve the
transformation from mechanical energy to electrical energy, currently, the induction
generator is used in order to generate the energy. We also have the synchronous
generator, but the induction generator requires less maintenance.
The inductor generation is based on a magnetic field in an induction machine that
is created inside, and this induces a current and net motion in the conductors of the
rotor. Then, the magnetic field motion makes the current induced in the conductors
to work the rotors.
10. Wind turbine blades should change their speed as wind speed changes.
Additionally, for grid-connected wind turbines, a fixed output electrical
frequency is required. Therefore, we would like to have a variable rotor
speed but a fixed output frequency ie. generator speed. There are several
ways to effectively change speeds (from the rotor speed to the output AC
frequency ) in a wind turbine system list and describe at least three more:
a. Change the number of poles in the generator thusly changing the
output AC frequency.
b. Multiple generators: high and low speed.
c. Multiple gearboxes.
d. Varying the slip of induction generators using external resistors.
11. Define the terms:

a. Cut-in Windspeed It is the speed when the wind turbine starts to
rotate and generate power. It is usually between 3 and 4m/s. (5)
b. Rated Windspeed It is the speed when the electrical generator is in
its limit of the power output. It is usually around 17m/s. (5)
c. Cut-out Windspeed It is the speed when the wind turbine is in its
maximum rotation, which means a great risk of damage in the rotor. It
is usually around 25m/s. (5)
d. Blade Planform and Solidity (indicate what value of solidity is good for
electrical production) Blade Planform is the shape of the flawise
blade surface, and Solidity is the ratio of total rotor planform area to
total swept area. To electrical production, the Solidity value must be
0.10 for large plants of wind generation, and >0.80 for small plants of
wind generation.
12.
Label the parts 2,5,6,8,9,10,13 above.
2: Main shaft
5: Hub
6: Gearbox
8: Nacelle cover
9: Induction
10: High-speed shaft
13: Yaw
REFERENCES:
(1)
Limite de Betz. Retrieved from: <http://www.aerogeradores.org/limitedebetz.php>
(2)
Huleihil, Mahmoud; Mazor, Gedalya. Wind Turbine Power: The Betz Limit and
Beyond. Retrieved from: <http://cdn.intechopen.com/pdfs-wm/41078.pdf>
(3)
Wind Energy Math Calculations. Retrieved from:
<http://www.mmpa.org/Uploaded_Files/2c/2c48c69c-303d-4fc7-8d882153190d1fcc.pdf>
(4)
Cost of Wind Energy. Retrieved from:
<http://www.awea.org/Resources/Content.aspx?ItemNumber=5547>
(5)
14. Wind turbine power ouput variation with steady wind speed. Retrieved from: <
http://www.wind-power-program.com/turbine_characteristics.htm >

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1. Explain in detail, the concept of the Betz limit and give its value.

2. What ratio of down-stream to up-stream wind velocities generates the

Optimum tip speed ratio

Figure 2: Lecture Topic 09 - Wind Power System Design

the units are given in the SI units:

6. What environmental factors affect air density?

9. Describe in detail the concept or process of how a wind turbine creates

11. Define the terms:

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