RCL 563 Wind Energy Engineering

Homework Betz Limit

1. For the Betz limit, what is the ratio of flow areas for the stream tube
encompassing the rotor at the rotor plane upstream and downstream?
2. Given the power curve for the best turbine for Dayton, OH, estimate the
efficiency of the turbine in the linear range or operation.
3. Estimate the optimal Tip Speed Ration (TSR) for a five bladed turbine.
4. For the Japanese wind lens turbine, the effect of the shroud is to reduce the
downstream pressure, say by P. Show by modifying the Betz limit, how
power production can actually be greater than the Betz limit.