4 Power from Wind
Theoretical Wind Power
- Energy = Power * time
- Power = Energy/time
- wind energy = ½ ρAtv^3
- wind power = ½ ρAv^3
Betz Factor
- The ratio of practical power to the power in the wind is called the Betz Factor
- Betz Factor = 16/27 = 0.593
Practical Wind Power
- wind power = ½cpρAv^3
- where cp = 0.593 for wind turbines using the lift (not drag) Betz Factor
Clipper Wind: Actual Power Curve
Clipper Wind: Actual Power Curve
- Any power generated by the turbine will be significantly less than ½cpρAv3.
- This is a result of losses in converting mechanical to electrical power, friction, etc.
Clipper Wind: Actual Power Curve
- power = ½cpρAv3
- For example at v = 10m/s, theoretical
power = ½(0.593)*
(1.2 kg/m3)*(7854m2)*
(10m/s)3 = 2.79 MW - At 10 m/s, Actual Power ≅ 1800 kW = 1.8 MW
- Efficiency = 64%
Clipper Wind: Actual Power Curve
- At 5 m/s, Power ≅ 225 kW
- At 10 m/s, Power ≅ 1800 kW
- This is an 8x increase as expected by
wind power ∝ v3
Clipper Wind: Actual Power Curve
- After 10 m/s,
wind power ∝ v3 will not accurately predict the power. - This is due to the generator and other mechanical components of the turbine being unable to increase power output proportional to the wind velocity
Clipper Wind: Actual Power Curve
- The cut-out wind velocity of this turbine is 25m/s
- The constant output of power between 13m/s and 25 m/s is achieved through pitch control
Clipper Wind – Pitch Control
- Pitch control allows the blade of each turbine to be oriented in a manner to maximize wind power prior to 2.5MW on the Liberty 2.5 MW Wind Turbine.
- Once the output reaches 2.5 MW, pitch control will be used to limit the power from the wind in order to maintain a constant 2.5MW output from the generator.
Theoretical Power from the Wind (power point)