2.

Power production
Wind power equation
Swept area At of turbine blades:
The disks have larger cross
sectional area from left to
right because
• v1 > vt > v2 and
• the mass flow rate must
v1 vt v2 be the same everywhere
within the streamtube.

Therefore, A 1 < At < A 2

x
 2. Power production
Wind power equation
x
1. Wind velocity: v  2. Air mass flowing: m  Ax
t m At x
3. Mass flow rate at swept area: tQ    At vt
t t
4a. Kinetic energy change: 4b. Force on turbine blades:
1
KE  m v1  v2
2
2 2
 
F  ma  m
v m
 v  Qt v1  v2
t t
 
5a. Power extracted: 5b. Power extracted:
P
KE 1 m 2 2 1
t

2 t
 
v1  v2  Qt v12  v22
2
  
P  Fvt  Qt vt v1  v2 
6a. Substitute (3) into (5a): 6b. Substitute (3) into (5b):
P  (1 / 2) At vt (v12  v22 ) 7. Equate P  At vt2 (v1  v2 )
 (1 / 2)vt (v22  v12 )  vt2 (v2  v1 )  (1 / 2)vt (v1  v2 )(v1  v2 )  vt2 (v1  v2 )  (1 / 2)(v2  v1 )  vt
8. Substitute (7) into (6b):P  At ((1 / 2)(v1  v2 )) 2 (v1  v2 )  At (v12  v22 )(v1  v2 )
 At v13 v2 2 v2 4
9. Factor out v1 : 3 P (1  ( ) )(1  )
4 v1 v1
 2. Power production
Wind power equation
10. Define wind v2 This ratio is fixed for a given
a
stream speed ratio, a: v1 turbine & control condition.

11. Substitute a into At v13

P (1  a 2 )(1  a)
power expression of (9): 4

12. Differentiate and find a

P At v13
a

4

 2a (a  1)  (1  a 2 )  0 
which maximizes function:  2a 2  2a  1  a 2  3a 2  2a  1  0
(3a  1)( a  1)  0  a  1 / 3, a  1
13. Find the maximum power At v13 1 4 At v13 8 4 8At v13
by substituting a=1/3 into (11): P (1  )( )  
4 9 3 4 93 27
 2. Power production
Wind power equation
14. Define Cp, the power (or performance) coefficient, which
gives the ratio of the power extracted by the converter, P, to
the power of the air stream, Pin.
power extracted At v13
P (1  a 2 )(1  a)
by the converter 4

power of the
air stream
Pin 
KE 1 m 2
t

2 t
1
2
 1
2
 1
v1  0  Q1v12  At v1v12  At v13
2
At v13
(1  a 2 )(1  a) 1
Cp 
P
 4
1
1
 (1  a 2 )(1  a) P  C p Pin  C P At v13
Pin At v13 2 2
2
15. The maximum value of Cp occurs when its numerator
is maximum, i.e., when a=1/3:
The Betz Limit!
P 1 8 4 16
Cp   ( )( )   0.5926
Pin 2 9 3 27
2. Power production
Cp vs. a
 2. Power production
Cp vs. λ and θ
u: tangential velocity of blade tip
Tip-speed ratio: u R
  ω: rotational velocity of blade
v1 v1 R: rotor radius
v1: wind speed

Pitch: θ

GE SLE 1.5 MW
 2. Power production
Cp vs. λ and θ
u: tangential velocity of blade tip
Tip-speed ratio: u R
  ω: rotational velocity of blade
v1 v1 R: rotor radius
v1: wind speed

Pitch: θ

GE SLE 1.5 MW
 2. Power production
Wind Power Equation
1
P  C p Pin  C P ( , ) At v1
3
2
So power extracted depends on
1. Design factors:
• Swept area, At
2. Environmental factors:
• Air density, ρ (~1.225kg/m3 at sea level)
• Wind speed v3
2. Control factors:
• Tip speed ratio through the rotor speed ω