Chapter 4

1. A 15-m/sec wind at 101.3 kPa and 20 C enters a two-bladed wind turbine with
a diameter of 15 m. Calculate the following:
(a) The power of the incoming wind.
(b) The theoretical maximum power that could be extracted.
(c) A reasonable attainable turbine power.
(d) The speed in RPM required for part (c).
(e) The torque for part (c).
J P kg
R := 287. P := 101300 Pa T := 293.0 K := = 1.205
kg K R T 3
m
2 2
D := 15.0 m A := 0.25 D A = 176.715 m Capture area
m 3
V := 15 Powerwind := 0.5 A V Powerwind = 359.233 kW
sec

CpBetz := 0.5926 Powermax := CpBetz Powerwind Powermax = 212.881 kW

Cpreasonable := 0.45 Powerreasonable := Cpreasonable Powerwind Powerreasonable = 161.655 kW

The maximum power coefficient for a two-bladed wind turbine occurs at an advance ratio of 11
(see Figure 4.6). The rotational speed then becomes
V 1
:= 11 := = 22 = 22 Hz
0.5 D s
Rev
Rev := 2 RPM := = 210.085 RPM
min
Powerreasonable 2
5 ft lb 3
:= = 1.744 10 = 5.42 10 ft lbf
2
s
2. Compute the power coefficients for a Vestas V52-850-kW (Table 4.3) wind turbine
at wind speeds of 10 m/s and 15 m/s. What are the advance ratios for these wind
speeds? How do the power coefficients compare with the expected (Figure 4.6)?

Table 4.3 Vestas V52-850 kW specifications

Rated capacity (kW) 850

Cut-in speed (m/sec) 4
Cut-out speed (m/sec) 25
Rated wind speed (m/sec) 16
Rotor diameter (m) 52
Swept area (m2) 2124
Rotor speed (rpm) 14-31.4
Compute the density
J P kg
R := 287. P := 101300 Pa T := 303.0 K := = 1.165
kg K R T 3
m
2 3 2
D := 52.0 m A := 0.25 D A = 2.124 10 m Capture area

V = 10 m/sec
m 3 3
V := 10 Powerwind := 0.5 A V Powerwind = 1.237 10 kW
sec
Power
Power := 500 kW Read from Figure 4.24 Cp := Cp = 0.404
Powerwind

:= 10 Read from Figure 4.6

V 60 sec 1
:= = 3.846 Hz rpm := rpm = 36.728
0.5 D min 2 min

V = 15 m/sec
m 3 3
V := 15 Powerwind := 0.5 A V Powerwind = 4.175 10 kW
sec
Power
Power := 840 kW Read from Figure 4.24 Cp := Cp = 0.201
Powerwind

:= 10 Read from Figure 4.6

V 60 sec 1
:= = 5.769 Hz rpm := rpm = 55.092
0.5 D min 2 min

At 10 m/sec, the power coefficient of 0.404 is reasonable for operation in the maximum
power coefficient range. At 15 m/sec, the power coefficient is 0.201, indicating operation in
the constant power range. These values are reasonable. At an advance ratio of 10, the
rotor speeds are in excess of those specified in Table 4.3; however, the advance ratio value
of 10 from Figure 4.6 is for a two-bladed device not a three-bladed wind turbine, so some
difference is expected.
3. A General Electric 1.5se wind turbine is used for this exercise. Information on the
GE 1.5se is provided in Table 4.2.
(a) Estimate the power coefficient at the rated speed and at 10 m/sec.
(b) Explain the importance of part (a).
(c) Estimate the kWh production of a GE 1.5se device in a wind distribution with
c = 10 m/sec and k = 2. Show plots similar to those examined in the chapter.
kg mi
:= 1.225 density mph := define mph kW := 1000 watt define kW
3 hr
m
2 3 2
D := 70.5 m A := 0.25 D A = 3.904 10 m Capture area

V = 10 m/sec
m 3 3
V := 10 Powerwind := 0.5 A V Powerwind = 2.391 10 kW
sec

Power := 1000 kW Read from Figure 4.22

Power
Cp := Cp = 0.418 Cpnom := Cp
Powerwind

V = 13 m/sec (rated speed)

m 3 3
V := 13 Powerwind := 0.5 A V Powerwind = 5.253 10 kW
sec

Power := 1500 kW Read from Figure 4.22

Power
Cp := Cp = 0.286
Powerwind

m
c := 10 k := 2.0 specify values of the scale parameter and shape parameter
sec
k
v
k 1

v
e
k c
h ( v , k , c) := Weibull distribution function definition.
c c
3
PowerDen( V) := 0.5 V Power density.
m m m
Generate plots for specified parameters: v := 0 , 0.1 .. 50 Wind speed range
sec sec sec
 800

Hours per year per m/sec

700
600
500
400

300
200
100

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Wind speed, m/sec

0.00125
m
0.001 V := 7
Hours per year per m/sec

sec
7.5 .10
4

5 .10
4
Given
2.5 .10
4
d
0 h ( V , k , c) = 0
dV
2.5 .10
4

5 .10 Vmode := Find( V)

4

7.5 .10
4
m
0.001 Vmode = 7.071
0.00125 sec
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Wind speed, m/sec

( )
watt
Vmode := Vmode PowerDen Vmode = 216.551
2
m
m

sec k
v
k 1
k v
e v dv ( )
c m watt
Vmean := Vmean = 8.862 PowerDen Vmean = 426.325
c
c sec
m
2
0 m
sec
3
m

sec k
v
k 1
k v
e v dv ( )
c 3 m watt
Vrmc := Vrmc = 10.995 PowerDen Vrmc = 814.221
c
c sec
m
2
0 m
sec
 3
Power( v ) := 0.5 h ( v , k , c) v Power density available with Cp = 1.0.

The energy available for a power coefficient of 0.5.

m
1000


sec v
k

k v k1

0.25 e 8760 v dv
c hr 3 3 hr
Energy := Energy = 3.566 10 kW
c c yr
yr m
2
0 m
sec

750
Energy density in (kWh/yr)/(m/s)/(m*m)

700
650
600
550
500
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Wind speed in m/sec

Power density
1500 kW kW
Powerin max := Powerin max = 0.384 Generator input
A 2
m
m m
Vcutin := 4 Cut-in speed Vcutout := 25 Cut-off speed
sec sec

3
PowerDen( v ) := 0.5 Cpnom v Power density available with specified Cp.
 10

9
Power density in kW/(m*m)
8

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Wind speed in m/sec

kW
PowerDenCon ( v ) := 0 if v < Vcutin Piece-wise continuous
2 function defined to implement
m
the cut-in, cut-out, and rated
Powerin max if PowerDen( v ) > Powerin max power constraints.
kW
0 if v > Vcutout
2
m
PowerDen( v ) otherwise
Power density when control scheme is applied.

8
Power density in kW/(m*m)

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Wind speed in m/sec

 PowerDenCon ( v ) Cpnom
CpV ( v ) := Power coefficient as a function of speed.
PowerDen( v )

Energy ( v ) := PowerDen( v ) h ( v , k , c) 8760 hr Energy density available with nominal Cp.

EnergyCon ( v ) := PowerDenCon ( v ) h ( v , k , c) 8760 hr Energy density with controls.

0.5

0.4
Cp(V)

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Wind speed in m/sec

400
Energy density in (kWh/yr)/(m/s)/(m*m)

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Wind speed in m/sec

 m Energy
1000
sec extracted per
1 3 hr
EnergyCon := EnergyCon ( v ) dv EnergyCon = 1.614 10 kW year per m2 for
yr 2
yr m system with
0 m controls.
sec

m Energy
1000
sec extracted per
1 3 hr
Energy max := Energy ( v ) dv Energy max = 2.983 10 kW year per m2
yr 2
yr m with no
0 m controls.
sec

EnergyCon
CaptureRatio := CaptureRatio = 0.541
Energy max
4. A 27-mph wind at 14.65 psia and 70 F enters a wind turbine with a 1000-ft2 cross-
sectional area. Calculate
(a) the power of the incoming wind.
(b) the theoretical maximum power that could be extracted.
(c) a reasonable attainable turbine power.
(d) the torque for part (c).
ft lbf lbf P lb
Rg := 53.35 P := 14.65 T := 530 R := = 0.075
lb R 2 Rg T 3
in ft
mi
2 mph :=
A := 1000 ft Capture area hr
3
V := 27 mph Powerwind := 0.5 A V Powerwind = 97.621 kW Powerwind = 130.911 hp

CpBetz := 0.5926 Powermax := CpBetz Powerwind Powermax = 57.85 kW

Cpreasonable := 0.45 Powerreasonable := Cpreasonable Powerwind Powerreasonable = 43.929 kW

The maximum power coefficient for a two-bladed wind turbine occurs at an advance ratio of 11
(see Figure 4.6). The rotational speed then becomes
V 1
:= 11 := = 3.767 = 3.767 Hz
0.5 D s
Rev = 35.968 RPM
Rev := 2 RPM :=
min
Powerreasonable 2
5 ft lb 3
:= = 2.768 10 = 8.602 10 ft lbf
2
s
 5. Consider two cases: (1) a constant wind velocity twice the mean wind velocity
and operating half the time, and (2) a constant wind velocity three times the same mean
velocity operating one third of the time. At all other times the wind velocity is zero.
Determine for each case the ratio of the total energy available from the wind to the total
wind energy available at the mean velocity continuously.
The energy available is the power available, Eq. (4-2), times the hours of operation. If a
constant wind speed is a Factor time the mean but is only operated 1/Factor of the time,
then the energy ratio, energy available for case described divided by the energy available for
continuous operation at the mean speed is

8760 hr
A(Factor V )3
1

Energy RatioFactor =
2 Factor = Factor 2
1
AV 3 8760 hr
2
2 2
EnergyRatio2 := 2 EnergyRatio2 = 4 EnergyRatio3 := 3 EnergyRatio3 = 9

This problem really illustrates the importance of wind speed in wind turbine energy extraction.
 6. A 15-ft diameter wind turbine operates in 25 ft/sec wind at 1 atm and 60 F.
The turbine is used to pump 60 F water from a 30-ft deep well. How much water in cfs
can be pumped if the overall efficiency of the wind-turbine-pump system is 0.25?
Estimate the power that can be delivere to the water.
ft lbf lbf P lb
Rg := 53.35 P := 14.7 T := 520 R := = 0.076
lb R 2 Rg T 3
in ft
2 2
D := 15 ft A := 0.25 D A = 176.715 ft Capture area

ft 3
V := 25 Powerwind := 0.5 A V Powerwind = 4.439 kW Powerwind = 5.953 hp
sec

Cpreasonable := 0.45 Powerextracted := Cpreasonable Powerwind Powerextracted = 1.998 kW

If the overall system efficiency is 0.25, the power imparted to the fluid is
Powerfluid := 0.25 Powerextracted Powerfluid = 0.499 kW Powerfluid = 0.67 hp

The power to the water is QP = QH.

lb lbf
water := 62.2 H := 30 ft
3 lb
ft
Powerfluid 3
ft
Q := Q = 88.598 gpm Q = 0.197
water H sec
7. A wind turbine-generator is designed to attain the full-load capacity with a wind
velocity of 48 km/h. The rotor diameter is 50 m. If the power coefficient is 0.48 and
generator efficiency is 0.85, calculate the rated output for 1 atm and 22 C.
Compute the density
J P kg
R := 287. P := 101300 Pa T := 295.0 K := = 1.196
kg K R T 3
m
2 3 2
D := 50.0 m A := 0.25 D A = 1.963 10 m Capture area

km 3 3
V := 48.0 Powerwind := 0.5 A V Powerwind = 2.784 10 kW
hr
3
Powerextracted := 0.48 Powerwind Powerextracted = 1.336 10 kW

3
Poweroutput := 0.85 Powerextracted Poweroutput = 1.136 10 kW
8. The U. S. Department of Energy constructed a Darrieus vertical axis wind turbine in
Sandia, NM. The machine was 60-ft tall, 30 ft in diameter, and swept an area of 1200
ft2. Estimate the power this device can produce at a wind speed of 20 mph.

ft lbf lbf P lb
Rg := 53.35 P := 14.7 T := 530 R := = 0.075
lb R 2 Rg T 3
in ft
2 mi
A := 1200 ft Capture area mph :=
hr
3
V := 20 mph Powerwind := 0.5 A V Powerwind = 47.775 kW Powerwind = 64.067 hp

CpBetz := 0.5926 Powermax := CpBetz Powerwind Powermax = 28.311 kW

For the Darrieus turbine, Figure 4.6 suggest a reasonable power coefficieint to be 0.45.

Cpreasonable := 0.45 Powerreasonable := Cpreasonable Powerwind Powerreasonable = 21.499 kW

The maximum power coefficient for a two-bladed wind turbine occurs at an advance ratio of 6
(see Figure 4.6).
9. An early NASA/DOE wind turbine consisted of a 125-ft diameter, two-bladed,
horizontal-axis rotor. Maximum power was achieved at a wind speed of 19 mph. For
these conditions estimate:
(a) The power generated in kW.
(b) The rotor speed in RPM.
(c) The velocity downstream of the rotor (Vo).
ft lbf lbf P lb
Rg := 53.35 P := 14.7 T := 530 R := = 0.075
lb R 2 Rg T 3
in ft
2 4 2 mi
D := 125 ft A := 0.25 D A = 1.227 10 ft Capture area mph :=
hr
3
V := 19 mph Powerwind := 0.5 A V Powerwind = 418.89 kW Powerwind = 561.741 hp

CpBetz := 0.5926 Powermax := CpBetz Powerwind Powermax = 248.234 kW

Cpreasonable := 0.45 Powerreasonable := Cpreasonable Powerwind Powerreasonable = 188.501 kW

The maximum power coefficient for a two-bladed wind turbine occurs at an advance ratio of 11
(see Figure 4.6). The rotational speed then becomes
V 1
:= 11 := = 4.905 = 4.905 Hz
0.5 D s
Rev
Rev := 2 RPM := = 46.835 RPM
min
4 lb
mdot := A V mdot = 2.56 10
s

The power extracted at the turbine must be equal to the rate of change of kinetic energy at the
turbine. At the turbine the Betz analysis shows that the velocity is 2/3 times the freestream, so
that the mass flow rate is 2/3 mdot. Application of the energy equation, Eq. (3-1), yields

V 2 V 2 V 2 V 2
in out 2 in out
Power = mdotturbine = mdot
2 2 3 2 2

2 2 Powerreasonable ft
Vout := V Vout = 15.887 Vout = 10.832 mph
mdot 0.66667 s

2 2 Powermax ft
Vout := V Vout = 9.289 Vout = 6.333 mph
mdot 0.66667 s

For the case of maximum power extraction, the exit velocity is exactly 1/3 of the freestream
velocity--in agreement with the Betz analysis.
10. A wind turbine with a rotor diameter of 40 m possesses a power coefficient of 0.30
in an 8 m/s wind. The density is 1.2 kg/m3. The turbine is to be used in a wind farm
that is to serve a community of 100,000 (average family size of 4). Each house will
require 3 kW. The wind farm will have a turbine spacing of 2.4 rotor diameters
perpendicular to the wind and 8 rotor diameters parallel to the wind. The wind farm will
have ten turbines perpendicular to the wind.
(a) Estimate the power production from one turbine.
(b) How many turbines will be required in the wind farm for the community?
(c) Estimate the dimensions of the wind farm.
(d) How many acres will be required for the wind farm?
(e) If the average house is on a 0.25-acre lot, how large will the wind farm be in
comparison to the community?
(f) What does this problem infer about wind power feasibility in an urban
setting?
kg 2 3 2
:= 1.2 D := 40 m A := 0.25 D A = 1.257 10 m Capture area
3
m
m 3
V := 8 Powerwind := 0.5 A V Powerwind = 386.039 kW Powerwind = 517.687 hp
sec

Cp := 0.30 Powerturbine := Cp Powerwind Powerturbine = 115.812 kW

100000 4
Powertotal := 3 kW Powertotal = 7.5 10 kW
4
Powertotal
Number := Number = 647.603 Number := 648 Number required
Powerturbine
4 2
Afootprint := 2.4 D 8 D Afootprint = 3.072 10 m
7 2 3
Atotal := Number Afootprint Atotal = 1.991 10 m Atotal = 4.919 10 acre
100000 3
Ahouses := 0.25 acre Ahouses = 6.25 10 acre
4
Atotal
Ratio := Ratio = 0.787
Ahouses

Thus, the wind farm will occupy nearly as much area as the houses. Such an arrangement
in an urban setting is land intensive. Moreover, because of the nature of wind, wind energy
cannot be considered as a base load so that backup will be required.
11. What is the power coefficient for the Vestas V52-850 kW wind turbine at rated
conditions?
J P kg
R := 287. P := 101300 Pa T := 303.0 K := = 1.165
kg K R T 3
m
Read from Table 4.3
2 3 2
D := 52.0 m A := 0.25 D A = 2.124 10 m Capture area

m 3 3
V := 16 Powerwind := 0.5 A V Powerwind = 5.067 10 kW
sec
Power
Power := 850 kW Cp := Cp = 0.168
Powerwind
12. What is the power coefficient for the Bergey Excel wind turbine at rated conditions?
J P kg
R := 287. P := 101300 Pa T := 303.0 K := = 1.165
kg K R T 3
m
Read from Table 4.4
2 2
D := 6.7 m A := 0.25 D A = 35.257 m Capture area

m 3
V := 13.8 Powerwind := 0.5 A V Powerwind = 53.967 kW
sec
Power
Power := 10 kW Cp := Cp = 0.185
Powerwind
13. The Utopia Wind Turbine Company advertises that their two-bladed, 20-m diameter
wind turbine/generator will produce 600 kW in a 15 m/s wind. The air density is 1.18
kg/m3. Do you believe their claim? Explain.
J P kg
R := 287. P := 101300 Pa T := 293.0 K := = 1.205
kg K R T 3
m
2 2
D := 20.0 m A := 0.25 D A = 314.159 m Capture area
m 3
V := 15 Powerwind := 0.5 A V Powerwind = 638.636 kW
sec

CpBetz := 0.5926 Powermax := CpBetz Powerwind Powermax = 378.456 kW

The Betz limit for these conditions is 378 kW. Hence, a stated value of 600 kW exceeds
the Betz limit. The claim is not true.

14. Repeat Example 4.3 with characteristics of wind turbine from a manufacturers web
site. If available, use a wind distribution consistent with your location.

The solution basis for this problem is presented in the solution to Problem 4.3.
Parameters from the manufacturer's data must be inserted into the work sheet. The
determination of the Weibull parameters depends on the local weather conditions.