Energy Conversion and Management 47 (2006) 13261337

www.elsevier.com/locate/enconman

A small wind turbine system (SWTS) application

and its performance analysis
Onder Ozgener

Solar Energy Institute, Ege University, 35100 Bornova, Izmir, Turkey

Received 17 February 2005; accepted 25 August 2005
Available online 5 October 2005

Abstract
Energy conservation, pollution prevention, resource eciency, systems integration and life cycle costing are very important terms for sustainable construction. The purpose of this work is to ensure a power supply for the north of the Solar
Energy Institute building environment lamps by using wind power to comply with the green building approach. Beside this,
the study is to present an energy analysis of the 1.5 kW small wind turbine system (SWTS) with a hub height of 12 m above
ground level with a 3 m rotor diameter in Turkey. The SWTS was installed at the Solar Energy Institute of Ege University
(latitude 38.24 N, longitude 27.50 E), Izmir, Turkey. NACA 63-622 prole type (National Advisory Committee for
Aeronautics) blades of epoxy carbon ber reinforced plastics were used. The system was commissioned in September
2002, and performance tests have been conducted since then. The performance analysis of the SWTS is quantied and illustrated in the tables, particularly for a reference temperature of 25 C, 30th of October 2003 till 5th of November 2003 for
comparison purposes. Test results show that when the average wind speed is 7.5 m/s, 616 W and 76 Hz electricity is produced by the alternator.
 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Energy; Environment; Exergy; Renewable energy; Sustainable development; Wind; Wind energy

1. Introduction
Energy conservation, pollution prevention, resource eciency, systems integration and life cycle costing are
very important terms for sustainable construction. Besides, these principles include: (i) minimizing non-renewable resource consumption, (ii) enhancing the natural environment and (iii) eliminating or minimizing the use
of toxins, thus combining energy eciency with the impact of materials on occupants [1]. Therefore, possible
use of wind energy must be evaluated in terms of its impact on the environment.
Wind power is fun but not practical in most situations and is unlikely to perform well in built up areas due
to low wind speeds, turbulence etc. [2]. However, wind energy was the fastest growing energy technology in the
1990s in terms of percentage of yearly growth of installed capacity per technology source. The growth of wind
*

Tel.: +90 232 388 4000/1242; fax: +90 232 388 6027.
E-mail addresses: onder.ozgener@ege.edu.tr, onderozgener@mail.ege.edu.tr

0196-8904/$ - see front matter  2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2005.08.014

O. Ozgener / Energy Conversion and Management 47 (2006) 13261337

1327

Nomenclature
A
CM
Cp
H
Href
I
R
Vr
V
VLL
VLN
P
Pa
Pe
Wa
Wteo
m_
S

rotor swept area (m2)

momentum factor of rotor ()
power coecient (energy conversion ratio) ()
height (m)
reference height (m)
phase currents (A)
maximum rotor radius (m)
local wind velocity (m/s)
volt (V)
phase to phase voltage (V)
phase voltages (V)
available power (W)
actual power (active power at generator output) (W, kW)
power at inverter output (W, kW)
actual work of SWTS (kW h)
theoretical work potential of SWTS (kW h)
mass ow rate of air (kg/s)
apparent power

Greek symbols
x
angular speed of rotor (rad/s)
g
eciency ()
Dti
yearly cumulative time (h/year)
k
tip speed ratio ()
q
air density (kg/m3)
l
Hellman coecient ()
P
total
Abbreviations
LCD liquid crystal display
NACA National Advisory Committee of Aeronautics
PBL
planetary boundary layer
PF (cos W) power factor ()
SWTS small wind turbine (windmill) system

energy, however, is not evenly distributed around the world. By the end of 2001, the total operational wind
power capacity worldwide was 23,270 MW. Of this, 70.3% was installed in Europe, followed by 19.1% in
North America, 9.3% in Asia and the Pacic, 0.9% in the Middle East and Africa and 0.4% in South and Central America [3].
Turkey has a considerably high level of renewable energy resources that can be a part of the total energy
network in the country [4]. Turkeys total theoretically available potential for wind power is found to be about
88,000 MW. Besides this, Turkeys wave power potential is estimated to be around 18,500 MW, with an average wave energy capacity of 140 billion kW h annually. These gures indicate that Turkey has considerable
potential for generating electricity from wind and wave power [5,6]. Today, distributed small wind electric systems can make a signicant contribution to Turkeys energy needs. To date, four wind power plants have been
installed with a total capacity of 20.1 MW in Turkey [6]. Because of the recent increase in the price of fossil
fuels, it is becoming ever more costly to provide energy for our abodes, besides the fact that pollution is being

1328

O. Ozgener / Energy Conversion and Management 47 (2006) 13261337

created to provide this energy. This study aims to develop a more ecient and more useful SWTS (small wind
turbine system) for rural areas, increasing eciency and decreasing the costs of stand alone and wind systems
in the Aegean Region, Turkey.
Renewable energy is abundant and its technologies are well established to provide complete security of energy
supply [7]. Among renewable energy sources, wind energy plays an important role. From the late 1800s to the
early 1900s, thousands of US farmers and ranchers used windmills to pump water, grind grain, charge batteries
and provide power for radios, lights and washing machines. The use of windmills to provide electric power died
out in the early 1930s when the Rural Electrication Administration made cheap electricity generated at centralized power stations available to farms and ranches across the country. Today, the cost of electricity in many
areas is spiraling upwards and weak electrical grids make power to remote farms and ranches less reliable than
in the past. Even urban homeowners are faced with unexpected jumps in power costs [8].
Researchers estimate that 50% of the United States has enough wind resources for small turbine development and 60% of US homes are located in those wind resource areas. Using small wind turbines, farmers,
ranchers and homeowners can reduce their utility bills, stabilize their electricity supplies and contribute to
the nations energy supply to play an important role in securing our energy future. Distributed wind electric
systems represent an opportunity for some nations, especially America households, to return to the energy
independence of a past century [8].
Wind energy applications have rapidly increased in the world, so the eciency of wind energy constructions
are getting important. Theoretically, the maximum eciency of wind energy conversion is 59.2% according to
the Betz Criteria [9]. Today, the available wind energy conversion eciency reaches about an average of 40
45% in modern wind turbine types.
There are two basic classes of windmill design: horizontal axis and vertical axis. Conventional windmills
spin on a horizontal axis. The rotor, or spinning part of the windmill, is the most important part because
it determines how much energy a windmill can capture and transform into some other form of energy.
The rotating blades depend on either of two aerodynamic principles to derive power from the wind: drag or
lift. Drag devices are simple wind machines that use at, curved or cup shaped blades to turn the rotor. In
these, the wind merely pushes on the cup or blade, forcing the rotor to spin.
Lift devices, in contrast, use airfoils like those in the wing of an airplane to propel the rotor. Air owing
over the blade causes both lift and drag. As objects, like an airplanes wings, move through the air, the air pulls
against them and holds them back. This is called drag. Lift is caused by the wind moving at dierent speeds
around the wing. Faster moving air has lower pressure than slowly moving air. Slower air under the wing
pushes it upward as lift. The sum of these two forces on a windmills blades generates a thrust that pulls
the blade on its journey through the air, much like it pulls a sailboat through the water. This thrust is greatest
when the blade is slicing through the wind. Airfoil performance is determined by the ratio of lift to drag [10].
The NACA 63-nnn series blades can be preferred to other blades in applications for performance improvement because of the fact that these proles have shown excellent properties for wind turbine blades, and their
average power coecients are higher than those of other blades [11,12]. In this study, the performance parameters of a wind turbine are given rst. An experimental study is then explained. Finally, the results obtained
from the present study are discussed.
2. Test facility
2.1. Experimental setup
A test facility was constructed to study the requiring electricity needs of the environment lights of the Solar
Energy Institute during night conditions. The consumed energy for environment lights purposes depends on
the seasons and the daily changing climatic conditions. A schematic diagram of the constructed experimental
system is illustrated in Fig. 1. A horizontal axis wind turbine having three epoxy carbon ber reinforced plastic
bladed rigid hub was constructed, including complete units of the SWTS, at the Solar Energy Institute in Ege
University, Izmir (latitude 38.24 N, longitude 27.50 E), Turkey. The main characteristics of the elements of the
experimental setup are given Table 1. The experimental system consists of ve major parts as follows: (a) electronics: charge controller, power conversion, inverter, charger, warmth control equipment, thermocouple

Wind

1329

12 m

90-185 V
32-100 Hz AC

3m

O. Ozgener / Energy Conversion and Management 47 (2006) 13261337

50 Hz 220 V AC

AC/DC/AC
96/220V
20 W

2m

20 W

50 Hz 220 V AC

50 Hz 220 V AC

20 W

20 W

20 W

50 Hz 220 V AC

50 Hz 220 V AC

Ground level

Fig. 1. A schematic of the SWTS.

(thermic), (b) storage batteries, (c) mechanics: tower, nose cone, yaw bearing, slip rings, tail, vane, nacelle
assembly, (d) 1.5 kW non-synchronous generator (alternator) and blades, (e) environmental energy saving ve
lamps with total power 100 W and (f) ve moving and light sensors for energy saving.
2.1.1. Non-synchronous generator (alternator)
Alternator are designed to charge (storage) batteries (accumulators). The alternator converts the mechanical (rotational) energy of the rotor into electricity (three phase alternating current). The magnets are in the
rotor, which allows suppression of the rings and brushes for connection. The number of poles (30) improves
the alternator performance at low speed, increases the mechanical parts life and reduces the noise level [13].
2.1.2. Rotor system
The rotor system consists of three NACA 63-622 blades made of carbon ber and epoxy. Its prole [1421]
allows the ecient conversion of wind linear movement in to alternator rotational movement.
2.1.3. Tail
The tail keeps the rotor aligned into the wind except when the wind speed exceeds security limits. When this
happens, the special articulation system turns the rotor sideways to the wind to limit the rotor speed in high
winds, but the turbine continues producing power [13,22].
2.1.4. Tower
The random or stochastic nature of wind is the single most unique design constraint that dierentiates wind
turbines from aircraft designs. The majority of todays wind turbines operate within the rst 100 m of the
earths surface. This region, which occupies the lowest portion of the planetary boundary layer (PBL), is extremely turbulent and driven by variations that occur with the diurnal changes in the atmospheric boundary
conditions. The vertical variation of temperature and wind speed with height denes the PBL behaviour
characteristics.
The tower location and height are the principal factors for system eciency. The wind average speed depends on many parameters and can vary a lot in the same area. The wind laminar ow over the earths surface
is disturbed by many obstacles and topographic variations. This has two consequences: wind speed decreasing
near the earth and turbulences, both of which diminish as the height increases. A reasonable security margin is
10 m above any obstacle within 100 m. Even in smooth areas, 10 m is advisable [2126].

1330

O. Ozgener / Energy Conversion and Management 47 (2006) 13261337

Table 1
The main characteristics of the elements of the SWTS system studied
No.

Item

Three bladed rigid hub system

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
17
18
19
22
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39

Aerodynamic prole form

Manufacturing material of blade
Mold used to manufacture blade
Material ratio of blades
Tensile strength (MPa)
Average blade weight (g)
Number of blades
Rotor diameter (m)
Maximum power (W)
Maximum power wind speed (m/s)
Cut in velocity value (start up wind speed) (m/s)
Cut o velocity (limiting wind speed) (m/s)
Theoretical maximum power factor value ()
Maximum energy conversion (power factor) ratio ()
Height of hub (m)
Roughness of blade surface
Theoretical prole tip loss eciency ()
Theoretical prole loss eciency ()
Power factor range
Brake system
Generator (AC alternator)
Power systems
Inverter input voltage (V)
Inverter output voltage (V)
Inverter output frequency (Hz)
Generator average cos W [power factor (PF)]
P
Batteries charging voltage (PV)
Batteries charging current ( A)
Charge controller disconnect voltage (V)
Accumulators (batteries)/unit
P
Alternating current in environment lights ( A)
Alternating voltage in environment lights (V)
Total power of environment lights (W)
Generator frequency (Hz) (at 4.3 m/s wind speed)
Generator
average alternating voltage value
P
( V) (at 260 rpm and 10 m/s wind speed)
Range of rpm of rotor
Mechanical eciency of system ()
Generator eciency ()
Inverter and power group eciency ()
Gear system eciency ()
Estimated average decibel value (10 m from hub
and average 5.5 m/s wind velocity)

NACA 63-622
Epoxy carbon resin
Steel
50% epoxy resin, 50% carbon ber
900a
1300
3
3
1500b
12b
2.4b
18b
0.4531b
0.35
12
Clean
0.912
0.88
00.35
Mechanical
1.5 kW non-synchronous generator/3 phase
AC/DC/AC and 3 kW inverter
96
220
50
0.62
100
22
106
65 Ah 12 V/8
0.54
220
100
30b
139

40
41
42
43
44
45
a
b

60320b
0.97
0.98
0.98

50

Theoretical maximum value [13].

Production value [13].

2.2. Measurements
The following data were regularly recorded with a time interval of 15 min during the experimental period
30th of October 2003 till 05th of November 2003.
(a) Measurement and monitoring on a LCD display of instantaneous power generations of the alternator
and all electrical parameters by using the electronic energy analyzer.
(b) Measurement of wind velocities at the ground level by anemometer, and then, these values were calculated for 12 m by using the Hellmann equation.

O. Ozgener / Energy Conversion and Management 47 (2006) 13261337

1331

(c) Uncertainty analysis is needed to prove the accuracy of the experiments. An uncertainty analysis was
performed using the method described by Holman [27].
Daily average values of 37 measurements from 8.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. with an interval of 15 min were recorded. The total uncertainties of the measurements are estimated to be 1.30% for the wind velocities,
1.02% for the voltage and current in the system and 3.03% for the power factor.
2.3. System operation
The rotor begins to rotate (spin) when the wind speed reaches approximately 2.4 m/s (8.64 km/h). Battery
charging commences at a slightly higher speed, depending on the battery state of charge. When the battery is
fully charged, the charge controller disconnects the turbine from the battery. The turbine produces a three
phase alternating current (AC) that varies in voltage and frequency as the wind speed varies. The controller
(regulator) recties this AC into the direct current (DC) required for battery charging and controls the energy
supplied to the batteries to avoid overcharging. The SWTS has electronic energy
P analyzers that show every
system status data (phase voltages (VLN), phase currents (I), total current ( I), power factor (PF) cos W,
apparent power etc.).
3. Analysis
Designing wind turbines to achieve satisfactory levels of performance and durability starts with knowledge
of the aerodynamic forces acting at the critical interface between wind and machine.
The eciency of a wind turbine is usually characterized by its power coecient as given below. The maximum possible value of Cp is 0.5926 according to the Betz criterion.
Cp

I V
Pa

P
gmechanic  galternator  0:5qpR2 V 3r

where Cp is the power coecient of a wind turbine. The power coecient is given by Eq. (1). In this study, the
electrical equipment and mechanical equipment losses were assumed to be galternator = 0.98 and gmechanic =
0.97, respectively.
The power performance of a wind turbine can be expressed for xed angular speed. This parameter is dened by
Cp
2
k
Wind turbines indicate various Cp values depending on the wind velocities. Therefore, their eciency is best
represented by a Cpk curve. The tip speed ratio k is given by
CM

xR
Vr

where k is the tip speed ratio, R is the maximum rotor radius (m), x is the rotor speed (rad/s) and Vr is the
wind velocity (m/s).
The air owing as wind has the same properties as the stagnant atmospheric air except that it possess a
velocity and, thus, some kinetic energy. This air will reach the dead state when it is brought to a complete stop.
Therefore, the availability of the blowing air is simply the kinetic energy it possesses:
Exergy of kinetic energy availability ke1

V 2r
2

To determine the available power, we need to know the amount of air passing through the rotor of the
windmill per unit time, the mass ow rate. Assuming standard atmospheric conditions (25 C, 101 kPa) in this
study, the density of air is 1.18 kg/m3, and its mass ow rate is
m_ qAV r qpR2 V r

1332

O. Ozgener / Energy Conversion and Management 47 (2006) 13261337

Thus,
_ 1
available power P mke

This is the maximum power available to the windmill. Most windmills in operation today harness about 20
40% of the kinetic energy of the wind [28].
Kinetic exergy is a form of mechanical energy, and thus, it can be converted to work entirely. Therefore, the
work potential or exergy of kinetic energy of a system is equal to the kinetic energy itself regardless of the
temperature and pressure of the environment [28].
Any measured wind velocity value can be estimated for dierent heights by using the following Hellmann
equation [29]

l
H
V r V ref
7
H ref
where Vr is the calculated wind velocity and Vref is the wind velocity at the reference height. In this study, the
Hellmann coecient (l) was assumed to be 0.28 [30] because the tower location is near the city.
4. Results and discussion
Ideally, applied research activities (eld testing) should be conducted by several technical disciplines, such
as; aerodynamic, materials, structures, fatigue, meteorology, aero acoustics, control and power systems and
manufacturing, e.g., [3150].
The random or stochastic nature of wind is the single most unique design constraint that dierentiates wind
turbines from aircraft designs. The majority of todays wind turbines operate within the rst 100 m of the
earths surface. This region, which occupies the lowest portion of the planetary boundary layer (PBL), is extremely turbulent and driven by variations, which occur with the diurnal changes in the atmospheric boundary
conditions. The vertical variation of temperature and wind speed with height denes the PBL behaviour characteristics. During normal daytime turbine operations, the temperature normally decreases with height, which
contributes to a convectively unstable atmosphere. Under these conditions, the largest and most energetic turbulent motions are associated with convective edges or cells that are many times larger than even the largest
wind turbines. The large eddies actively mix with and absorb the smaller, more compact turbulent structures
that have a more direct impact on rotating wind turbine blades.
In contrast, a stable boundary layer is characterized by warmer air overlaying cooler air in contact with the
earths surface. Under such conditions, coherent or organized turbulent structures can develop, which can
exist for long periods of time due to the lack of the large scale, vertical mixing characteristic of unstable ows.
These structures can be quite intense and, depending on their size and orientation, are capable of inducing
large structural loads when owing into the spinning rotor of a wind turbine. Interestingly, a disproportionate
number of hardware failures have occurred during evening operations, attesting to the potential severity of
this inow condition on turbine performance, e.g., [21,2326].
There are three basic methods of testing wind turbine rotors; wind tunnels testing, tow testing and eld testing. Field testing presents the proper wind environment, but it brings new challenges in measuring and recording test data. The method that was used in this case greatly smoothes the resulting graph of the power curve
(Fig. 2).
The performance data from the wind turbine are stored. Output power and wind speed are sampled over
periods of time, and average values of wind for each period are stored as wind speed.
One of the signicant measures of the cost eectiveness of a wind turbine is its production of energy. In the
design and analysis of wind turbines, the annual energy output is calculated. Calculation of annual energy output requires knowledge of the wind speed frequency distribution and the system power output of the turbine
as a function of wind speed, as shown in Table 2. Furthermore, every prediction of annual energy output is
specic, depending on the local wind ow patterns and turbulence and the local air density [19,21].
Table 2 illustrates using design performance data for the NACA 4415 [19] and also the NACA 63-622 blade
proles. Wind velocities of 1998 were taken from the Colak et al. research project [51]. When the average wind
velocity was calculated for the entire year, it was found to be approximately 3.22 m/s in the eld of the Solar

O. Ozgener / Energy Conversion and Management 47 (2006) 13261337

1333

1600

Power (W)

1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
0

8
10
12
Wind speed (m/s)

14

16

18

1600
1400
1200
1000

0.4
0.3

800
600
400
200
0

0.2
0.1

Power factor (-)

Power (W)

0
1

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Wind speed (m/s)

Power factor

Power

Fig. 2. Measured power curves of (a) alternator and (b) SWTS.

Table 2
Typical calculation and theoretical results of blade groups: average energy production
Blade Group I (NACA 63-622 prole and made of epoxy carbon
resin)

Blade Group II (NACA 4415 prole and made of GRP)

Wind
speed
(m/s)

Duration
Dti (h/year)

02.5
3.5
4.5
5.5
6.5
7.5
8.5
9.5
10.5
11.5

4234
1348
1422
975
475
197
76
18
13
2

Total

8760

Wind speed
frequency
(%)
48.33
15.39
16.24
11.13
5.42
2.25
0.86
0.21
0.15
0.02
100

Yearly
average
wind speed

Net energy
output
(kW h/year)

Wind
speed
(m/s)

Duration
Dti (h/year)

Wind
speed
frequency
(%)

Yearly
average
wind
speed

Net energy
output
(kW h/year)

0
86.680
194.341
243.287
195.641
124.646
70
23.146
22.570
4.562

06.5
7.5
8.5
9.5
10.5
11.5

8454
197
76
18
13
2

96.51
2.25
0.86
0.21
0.15
0.02

0
90.322
50.724
16.771
16.355
3.305

3.22

964.873

8760

100

3.22

177.477

Energy Institute, as listed in Table 2. Using the values given in Colak et al. [51], the wind speed frequencies are
determined and illustrated in Table 2.
For analysis purposes, the actual data for energy analysis and performance assessment purposes were taken
from the SWTS, and the respective physical and thermodynamic properties were obtained based upon these
data. Tables 3 and 4 show the measured and calculated performance parameters average values of the SWTS
during the experimental period 30th of October 2003 till 05th of November 2003. The daily average values of
37 measurements from 8.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. with an interval of 15 min were taken. The total uncertainties of

1334

O. Ozgener / Energy Conversion and Management 47 (2006) 13261337

Table 3
Measured and calculated performance parameters average values of the SWTS
P W mke
_ 1

Pa(W) = Cp * P

Vr

Cp

2.4

0.18

20.01

2.88

57.63

10.38

3.1
4
4.5
5.5
7.5
8
9
10
12

0.2
0.24
0.28
0.3
0.35
0.33
0.3
0.25
0.21

25.86
33.36
37.53
45.88
62.56
66.73
75.06
83.4
100.09

4.8
8
10.13
15.13
28.13
32
40.5
50
72

124.13
267
380.18
694.16
1760
2135
3040
4170
7206

24.8
64
106.45
208.3
616
704.55
912
1042.5
1513

a
b
c
d
e
f
g

m_

ke1

Vr

Dtia
(h/year)

9.16

02.5

4234

48.33

21.9
56.5
94
183.9
544.1
622.31
805.55
920.82
1335

3.5
4.5
5.5
6.5
7.5
8.5
9.5
10.5
11.5

1348
1422
975
475
197
76
18
13
2

15.39
16.24
11.13
5.42
2.25
0.86
0.21
0.15
0.02

Total

8760

Pe

Wind speed
frequency
(%)

100

Wteo
(kW h/year)
0

Wa b,c,d
(kW h/month)

86.680
194.341
243.287
195.641
124.646
70
23.146
22.570
4.562

September
October/10e
November/15e
December/9.8
January/11.4e
February/10f
March/20.6
April/9g
May/8g
JuneJuly/9g
August/9g

964.873

111.8

Measured value [51].

Measured value between September 2002August 2003.
Months.
Monthly useful work potential of the SWTS.
Moving and light sensors was used on lights for saving energy.
SWTS in maintenance.
Monthly average wind speed very low for producing electricity at 12 m.

the measurements are estimated to be 1.30% for the wind velocities, 1.02% for voltage and current in the
system and 3.03% for the power factor. Tables 3 and 4 tell us about generalizing the seven days performance
of this machine into annual performance because the hourly averages of wind speed, direction and frequency
characteristics approximate the yearly wind regime in the Bornova-Izmir vicinity. In addition, 2002/2003 seasonal performance eects can be seen from the last column in Table 3. The theoretical useful energy is found as
964.873 kW h (corresponding to measured 1998 wind velocity speeds), however the actual seasonal performance useful energy was measured as 111.8 kW h from September 2002 to August 2003. The main reason
is the large low wind speed frequency distribution; moving and light sensors were used on lights for saving
energy; and the SWTS was down for maintenance some days. Whole actual useful energy values were recorded
by using the electronic energy analyzer in the system. As expected, lower average wind speed, minimum energy
storage in the batteries and minimum actual useful energy was obtained in May. Furthermore, the performance test results are given Table 4. When the average wind speed is 7.5 m/s, 616 W and 76 Hz. electricity
is produced by the alternator, but the power consumption value every time is constant because the total
power, voltage and currents of the environment lamps are 100 W, 220 V and about 0.5 A, respectively.
The experimental results show that monovalent central lighting operation cannot meet the overall energy
needs of the Solar Energy Institute building environment lamps if the wind speed is very low. Bivalent operation (combined with other lighting systems) can be suggested as the best solution in the test location if the
peak energy load can be easily controlled.
By comparison, in a study performed by the author, the power factor value for the NACA 4415 bladed
wind turbine was obtained to be 0.275 [9,19,52]. This clearly indicates that the performance of the NACA
63-622 in terms of energy and exergy utilization eciencies is better than that of the NACA 4415. One of
the reasons for this is that the prole losses in the NACA 63-622 are lower than those in the NACA 4415.
Energy and exergy performance safety was increased because,
Blade:
A steel mold was used to produce a smooth surface.
A long and narrow airfoil was selected having a larger aspect ratio than the NACA 4415 blade.

Measured parameters

Alternator output
Phase voltages (VLN)
Phase currents (I)
P
Total current ( I)
Power factor (PF), cos W
Phase to phase voltage (VLL)
Average phase to phase voltage
Frequency (Hz)
Total
P active
Ppower
P a IV LL cos W
Total apparent power
P
P
S IV LL

Wind velocities (m/s)

04.4

4.5

5.5

6.1

6.7

7.2

Negligible
Negligible
Negligible
Negligible
Negligible
Negligible
Negligible
Negligible

53
0.61
1.83
0.63
94
91.7
32
106

55
0.91
2.75
0.79
100
95.2
35
208

60
1.7
5.12
0.57
103
102
38.8
300

64
2.17
6.51
0.56
110
110
47
401

65
2.62
7.86
0.59
110
112
51.2
519

Negligible

168

262

522

716

880

1032

1142

220
50

220
50

220
50

220
50

220
50

220
50

220
50

96/220 V DC/AC Inverter output

Voltage
220
Frequency (Hz)
50

7.5
64
3.1
9.3
0.59
111
111
76
609

8.4
65
3.4
10.2
0.69
115
112
79
788

10

12

15

16

17

18

80
4.35
13.1
0.57
139
139
95
1038

107
4.7
14.1
0.58
185
185
100
1513

107
4.7
14.1
0.58
185
185
100
1513

107
4.7
14.1
0.58
185
185
100
1513

107
4.7
14.1
0.58
185
185
100
1513

246

426
426

1495

1821

2608

2608

2608

2608

220
50

220
50

220
50

220
50

220
50

220
50

66
4.33
13
0.61
116
115
91.6
912

220
50

O. Ozgener / Energy Conversion and Management 47 (2006) 13261337

Table 4
1.5 kW generator measured parameters

1335

1336

O. Ozgener / Energy Conversion and Management 47 (2006) 13261337

Location:
Test location was selected according to local topography and was evaluated by the eects of buildings, trees
etc.
Mean gear system:
Direct xed connection was used between the generator and rotor blades. This increased the Cp values due
to lower friction.
5. Conclusions
An experimental system was installed for investigating the performance of a SWTS to ensure a power supply for the Solar Energy Institute building environment lights by using wind power. It has been satisfactorily
operated without any serious defects in the experimental period. The results obtained during the 30th of
October 2003 till the 5th of November 2003 were given and discussed. The eects of climatic conditions
and operating parameters on the system performance parameters were also investigated. The experimental
results indicate that these SWTSs can be used for producing electricity in the Aegean region of Turkey. Additional conclusions drawn from the present study may be summarized as follows:
A SWTS can provide a practical and economical source of electricity in the Aegean region because this
region has a good wind resource.
The number of years for simple payback is a function of the wind speed, annual energy production from the
turbine, the manufacturers power curve and the installed costs of the SWTS.
Changing just the blade design (airfoil) of the small wind turbine can increase the annual energy production
from the turbine and greatly improve the manufacturers power curve.

Acknowledgement
The author would like to thank the Ege University Research Fund, Fiberplast Inc., Fibrosan GRP Industry
and Trade Inc., Ozmak Radio Antenna and Electronic Industry and Trade Inc., Sena Electronic Co. due to
their nancial supports. In addition, Dr. Leyla Ozgener, for her help in performing the experiments, is also
greatly appreciated.
References
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12]
[13]

Home B. Where the wind blows. Machynlleth: Center for Alternative Technology; 1994.
Woolley R, Kimmins S, Harrison P, Harrison R. Green building hand book, vol. I. E8 FN SPON Taylor Francis Group; 1997.
Ackermann T, Soder L. An overview of wind energyStatus 2002. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2002;6:67128.
Hepbasli A, Ozdamar A, Ozalp N. Present status and potential of renewable energy sources in Turkey. Energy Sources 2001;23:3350.
Ozgener O, Ulgen K, Hepbasli A. Wind and wave power potential. Energy Sources 2004;26:891901.
Hepbasli A, Ozgener O. Review on the development of wind energy in Turkey. Renew Sustain Energy Reviews 2004;8(3):25776.
Wrixon GT, Rooney ME, Palz W. Renewable energy. Berlin, Germany: Springer-Verlag; 2000.
http://www.nrel.gov/wind/.
Ozgener O. M.Sc. thesis. Investigation of blade of wind rose and power gain. Mechanical Engineering Science Branch, Graduate
School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey, 2002. p. 92 [in Turkish].
http://sln..edu/t/units/energy/buildwindmill.2003.
Tangler J, Smith B, Jager D, Olson T. Atmospheric performance of the special-purpose SERI thin-airfoil family, Final results. Solar
Energy Research Institute, 1817 Code Blvd., Golden, CO., Presented at ECWEC 90, Madrid, 1990.
Habali SM, Saleh IA. Local design, testing and manufacturing of small mixed airfoil wind turbine blades of glass ber reinforced
plastics: Part I. Design of the blade and root. Energy Convers Manage 2000;41:24980.
Koseoglu F, Koseoglu T. Ozmak Radio Antenna and Electronic Industry and Trade Co. Sena Electronic Co., 2003, personal
communications.

O. Ozgener / Energy Conversion and Management 47 (2006) 13261337

[14]
[15]
[16]
[17]
[18]
[19]
[20]
[21]
[22]
[23]
[24]
[25]
[26]
[27]
[28]
[29]
[30]
[31]
[32]
[33]
[34]
[35]
[36]
[37]
[38]
[39]
[40]
[41]
[42]
[43]
[44]
[45]
[46]

[47]
[48]
[49]
[50]
[51]
[52]

1337

Cengel YA, Turner RH. Fundamentals of thermal-uid sciences. McGraw-Hill; 2001.

Abbott IH. The drag of two streamlined bodies as aected by protuberances and appendages. NACA Report 451.1932.
Abbott IH, Von Doenho AE, Stivers LS. Summary of airfoil data. NACA Report 824, Langley Field, VA, 1945.
Abbott IH, Von Doenho AE. Theory of wing sections, including a summary of airfoil data. New York: Dover; 1959.
Hau E. Wind turbines. Berlin: Springer-Verlag; 1996 [in German].
Ozgener O. A review of blade structures of SWTSs in the Aegean region and performance analysis. Renew Sustain Energy Rev
2004;9(1):859.
Habali SM, Saleh IA. Local design, testing and manufacturing of small mixed airfoil wind turbine blades of glass ber reinforced
plastics: Part II. Manufacturing of the blade and rotor. Energy Convers Manage 2000;41:28198.
Spera DA. Wind turbine technology: fundamental concepts of wind turbine engineering. Amer Soc Mech Engrs 1994;430:28398.
Solener MC, Universal SL. 15 kW Velter XV Wind Turbine Users Manual. (Personal fax message to F. Koseoglu), August 27, 2003.
Robinson MC, Tu P. Applied wind energy research at the national wind technology center. Renewable Energy 1996;10(2/3):26572.
Fujisawa N, Shirai H. Experimental investigation on the unsteady ow eld around a Savonius rotor at the maximum power
performance, Tokyo. Wind Eng 1987;11(4):195206.
Sadhy D. The application of wind power to irrigation, Brazil. Wind Eng 1995;9(3).
Moment R, Pastore J. Wind energy conversion. In: A short seminar presented to the royal scientic society by Rocket Flats Wind
Energy Research Centre. Rockwell International Corporation, USAID, March 1984. p. 104.
Holman JP. Experimental methods for engineers. 7th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2001. p. 48143.
Cengel YA, Boles MA. Thermodynamics, an engineering approach. 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill; 1994.
Twidell J. British Wind Energy AssociationA guide to small wind energy conversion systems. Cambridge University Press; 1987.
Hapel KH. Stability analysis of dynamic requirements for oshore construction. Braunschweig: Vieweg Verlag; 1990 [in German].
Cotrell J. The mechanical design, analysis and testing of a two bladed wind turbine hub. 2002: NREL/TP 500-26645.
Kerlinger P, Kerlinger C. An assessment of the impacts of Green Mountain Power Corporations wind power facility on breeding and
migrating birds in Searsburg, Vermount. 2002: NREL/SR 500-28591.
Anon. Laboratory testing drive train component eciencies for constant-speed and variable speed wind turbines. 2002: NREL/SR
500-30117.
Muljadi E, McKenna HE. Power quality issues in a hybrid power system. 2001: NREL/CP 500-30412.
Muljadi E, Green J. Cogging torque reduction in permanent magnet wind turbine generator. 2002: NREL/CP 500-30768.
Dooling R. Avian hearing and avoidance of wind turbines. 2002: NREL/TP 500-30844.
Wright A, Balas M. Design of state space based control algorithms for wind turbine speed regulation. 2002: NREL/CP 500-31164.
Tangler JL. The nebulous art of using wind tunnel airfoil data for predicting rotor performance. 2002: NREL/CP 500-31243.
Smith B, Link H, Randall G, McCoy, T. Applicability of nacelle anemometer measurements for use in turbine power performance
tests. 2002: NREL/CP 500-32494.
Fingersh LJ, Jahnson K. Controls advanced research turbine (CART) commissioning and baseline data collection. 2002: NREL/TP
500-32879.
Van Dam J, Link H, Meadors M, Bianchi J. Wind turbine generator system safety and function test report southwest wind power H
40 wind turbine. 2002: NREL/TP 500-31666.
McNi B. Wind turbine lightning protection project. 2002: NREL/SR 500-31115.
Malcom DJ, Hansen AC. WindPACT Turbine rotor design study. 2002: NREL/SR 500-32495.
Rasmussen F, Hansen MH, Thomsen K, Larsen TJ, Bertagnolio F, Johansen J, et al. Present status of aeroelasticity of wind turbines.
Wind Energy 2003;6:21328.
Snel H. Review of the present status of rotor aerodynamics. Wind Energy 1998(Spring):4669.
Montgomerie B. A cook book method for the construction of steady aerodynamics CL and CD curves to be used in blade-elementmomentum theory for wind turbines. IEA Joint Action Aerodynamics of Wind Turbines 14th Symposium. Boulder, CO 2000.
p. 11325.
Snel H. Review of aerodynamics for wind turbines. Wind Energy 2003;6:20311.
Glauert H. Windmills and fans. In: Durand WF, editor. Aerodynamic theory, vol. 14. New York: Dover; 1963. p. 32440.
Kaw AK. Mechanics of composite materials. LLC: CRC Press; 1997. p. 194.
Mallick PK. Composites engineering handbook. Marcel Dekker, Inc.; 1997. p. 13.
Colak M, Gunerhan H, Gunerhan GG. Investigation on the relation between solar energy system and wind and the other
meteorological conditions. Ege University Research Foundation Project No: 93/GEE/007. Turkey: Izmir, 1999 [in Turkish].
Ozgener O, Ozdamar A. The power factor improvement of a wind rose with optimum blade design. Ege University Research Fund
Project, Number: 2001/GEE/004, Izmir, 2003. p. 34 [in Turkish].