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Power Thrust and Optimum Rotors

1) 1D momentum theory describes how a wind turbine brakes the wind flow as it passes through the rotor. The flow velocity is reduced from V0 to u1 based on conservation of mass and momentum. 2) An axial induction factor a is defined as the fraction of wind speed reduction through the rotor. The optimum value of a is 1/3, allowing a rotor to extract up to 16/27 or 59% of the kinetic energy of the incoming wind according to the Betz limit. 3) Optimum power coefficient Cp,opt is achieved when the derivative of Cp with respect to a is zero, yielding a value of 4/3 and extracting the maximum possible power from the wind.

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Nithin Kannan
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49 views

Power Thrust and Optimum Rotors

1) 1D momentum theory describes how a wind turbine brakes the wind flow as it passes through the rotor. The flow velocity is reduced from V0 to u1 based on conservation of mass and momentum. 2) An axial induction factor a is defined as the fraction of wind speed reduction through the rotor. The optimum value of a is 1/3, allowing a rotor to extract up to 16/27 or 59% of the kinetic energy of the incoming wind according to the Betz limit. 3) Optimum power coefficient Cp,opt is achieved when the derivative of Cp with respect to a is zero, yielding a value of 4/3 and extracting the maximum possible power from the wind.

Uploaded by

Nithin Kannan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Power, thrust and optimum rotors

1D Momentum theory for wind turbines

Henrik Bredmose

Learning objectives
After this lecture you will be able to:
Explain how the wind flow is braked as it passes a wind turbine
Explain the theory behind the optimum power production of an idealized rotor

Flow through rotor


Wind sees rotor as a braking disc

1D momentum theory

Pressure drop
Mass conservation

0 0 = = 1 1

The Bernoulli equation from section 0 to rotor and from rotor to section 1

1 2
1 2
0 + 0 = +
2
2
1 2
1 2
+ + = 0 + 1
2
2

1
= 02 12
2

Momentum conservation

Assume pressure p0 around edges of control volume:


+

Divide with

0 02

1 12

+ =

1 12

0 0 = 1 1 =

1
= 0 + 1
2

1
+ 02 12
2
1 02 12
0 = 1 +
2

velocity in rotor plane, u, is average of V0 and u1

Axial induction factor


Axial induction factor a

= 1 0
1 = 1 2 0
Power:
Thrust:

1
1
2
2
= = 0 1 = 02 4 1
2
2
1
= 02
2
1
1
2
= = 0 1 0 = 03
2
2

Thrust coefficient cT

= 4 1
Power coefficient CP

= 4 1

The optimum rotor (Betz limit)


Axial induction factor a

= 1 0

Optimize CP with respect to a:

3
= 4 1 1 3 = 0 =

1
,

4 2
=
3 3

16
=
= 0.59
27

Power coefficient CP

= 4 1

Summary
In this lecture you have learnt:

That a rotor removes kinetic energy from the wind


How basic fluid mechanics laws can utilized to describe the flow
That an optimal rotor can extract 16/27=0.59 of the in-coming kinetic energy

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