PROJECT REPORT – SAMPLE – DR.

TANZY

Introduction:
In this project we explore the mathematics behind the efficiency of wind turbine blades. This is a
significant topic because by understanding how different shapes of turbine blades behave over
different wind speeds we can best design these blades with the average wind speeds of where we
will be building our wind farm in mind. We can also use this understanding to compare turbines
with other designs and methods of wind power generation.

In these problems we will be looking specifically at a three-blade wind turbine which has a
1 3
maximum possible power production of P= A v C p with the maximum conversion efficiency
2
of Cp,max = 0.59.

Part 1:
In the first part of this project we will plot power output for a turbine with blade length l = 52 m,
where the air has density  = 1.23 kg/m3 and with a maximal power conversion of Cp = Cp,max =
0.59. Please note that in my chart I have converted power to megawatts.

Power vs Windspeed

90

80

70

60
Power (MW)

50

40

30

20

10

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Windspeed (m/s)
Part 2:
In the second part we recall that Cp,max = 0.59 is the maximum possible efficiency for a wind
turbine. In practice this efficiency cannot be reached due to various frictions and other power
losses. Thus we will compare the maximum efficiency to a more realistic value of Cp = 0.40

Power vs Windspeed
90
80
70
60
Power (MW)

50 P (Cp = .59)
40 P (Cp = .4)
30
20
10
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Windspeed (m/s)

Part 3:
Previously we have assumed that power conversion was constant regardless of velocity. In
practice this is not the case. At low wind velocities the wind may not be able to move the blade
at all while at high velocities the turbine might not function well. We consider a power
11 v
coefficient curve C p ( v )= and find the maximum value of C p by finding critical points
100+v 2
and using the first derivative test.
' 11 ( 100+ v 2 )−11 v (2 v )
C p (v )= 2 2
(100+ v )
2
' 1100−11 v
C p (v )=
(100+ v 2)2
This has a critical point at 1100−11v 2=0 which gives us v=10. To determine if this is a max or
min we will then use the first derivative test and find C ' p ( 9 ) =.006 while C ' p ( 11 ) =−.0047. As the
first derivative goes from positive to negative v=10 will be a max. The maximal C p is thus
C p ( 10 )=.55
Part 4:
Next we will plot the power as a function of velocity for the power coefficient curve
11 v
C p ( v )= .
100+v 2

Power vs Windspeed - Variable Conversion

50
45
40
35
Power (MW)

30
25 P - Cp(v)
20
15
10
5
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Windspeed (m/s)

Part 5:
Finally we note that even though the wind turbine is less efficient at higher wind-speeds, we still
get the most power at the highest wind-speed, v=30 for the range we plotted.