Example 6.1 Don’t Use Average Windspeed.

Compare the energy at 15◦C, 1 atm pressure,

contained in 1 m2 of the following wind regimes:
a. 100 hours of 6-m/s winds (13.4 mph),
b. 50 hours at 3 m/s plus 50 hours at 9 m/s (i.e., an average windspeed of 6 m/s)
Solution:

1 3
Wind energy = ρA v ∆ t
2
15˚C, 1 atm ρ = 1.225 kg/m3
A = 1 m2
(a) ∆ t = 100 h
v = 6 m/s
Energy =?
1 3
Energy = ρA v ∆ t
2
1 3
= ×1.225 ×1 ×6 × 100
2
= 13230 Wh
(b) ∆ t = 50 h, v = 3 m/s
1 3
Energy = ρA v ∆ t
2
1 3
= ×1.225 ×1 ×3 ×50
2
= 827 Wh
∆ t = 50 h, v = 9 m/s
1 3
Energy = ρA v ∆ t
2
1 3
= ×1.225 ×1 × 9 × 50
2
= 22326 Wh
Total energy = 827 + 22326
= 23153 Wh

Example 6.2 Density of Warmer Air. Find the density of air at 1 atm and 30◦C (86◦F)
Solution:

ρ=?
P = 1 atm
T = 30˚C = (30+273.15) = 303.15 K
M.W of air = 28.97 g/mol
R = 8.2056×10-5 m3.atm/K.mol
−3
P × M .W × 10
ρ=
RT
−3
1× 28.97 ×10
= −5
8.2056 ×10 ×303.15
= 1.165 kg/m3

Example 6.3 Density at Higher Elevations. Find the air density (a), at 15◦C (288.15 K), at
an elevation of 2000 m (6562 ft). Then (b) find it assuming an air temperature of 5 ◦C at 2000
m.
Solution:

ρ=?
M.W of air = 28.97 g/mol
R = 8.2056×10-5 m3.atm/K.mol
(a) At 15˚C, T = 288.15 K
H = 2000 m
−4 −4

P=P 0 e−1.185 ×10 ×H

= 1 (atm) . e−1.185 ×10 ×H

−4
= 1 (atm) . e−1.185 ×10 × 2000

= 0.789 atm
−3
P × M .W × 10
ρ=
RT
−3
0.789 ×28.97 ×10
= −5
8.2056 ×10 × 288.15
= 0.967 kg/m3
At 5˚C, T = 5 + 273.15 = 278.15 K
H = 2000 m
−3
0.789 ×28.97 ×10
ρ= −5
8.2056 ×10 × 278.15
= 1.00 kg/m3

Example 6.4 Combined Temperature and Altitude Corrections. Find the power density
(W/m2) in 10 m/s wind at an elevation of 2000 m and a temperature of 5◦C. (KT=1.04, KA=
0.789) table 6.1 & 6.2
Solution:

Power density , ρ/A = ?

v = 10 m/s
 H = 2000 m
T = 5˚C
KT = 1.04 , KA = 0.789
ρ = 1.225 KT KA
= 1.225 ×1.04 × 0.789 = 1.005 kg/m3
ρ 1 3
= ρv
A 2
1 3
= ×1.005 ×(10)
2
= 502.5 W/m2

Example 6.5 Increased Windpower with a Taller Tower. An anemometer mounted at a

height of 10 m above a surface with crops, hedges, and shrubs (α = 0.2) shows a windspeed
of 5 m/s. Estimate the windspeed and the specific power in the wind at a height of 50 m.
Assume 15◦C and 1 atm of pressure.
Solution:

At H10 = 10 m v10 = 5 m/s

At H50 = 50 m v50 = ?
α = 0.2
At 15˚C , 1 atm
ρ = 1.225 kg/m3
P50 = ?

( )( )
α
v 10 H
= 10
v 50 H 50

( )( )
0.2
5 10
=
v 50 50
v50 = 6.89 m/s
1 3
P50 = ρv
2
1 3
= ×1.225 ×(6.89)
2
= 200.34 W/m2

Example 6.6 Rotor Stress. A wind turbine with a 30-m rotor diameter is mounted with its
hub at 50 m above a ground surface that is characterized by shrubs and hedges (α = 0.2).
Estimate the ratio of specific power in the wind at the highest point that a rotor blade tip
reaches to the lowest point that it falls to.
Solution:

P
=?
P0
Rotor diameter = 30 m
Its hub at 50 m above the ground.
H0 = 50 – 15 = 35 m
H = 50 + 15 = 65 m
α = 0.2

( )
3α
P H
=
P0 H0

( )
3 × 0.2
65
=
35
= 1.45

Example 6.7 How Fast Does a Big Wind Turbine Turn? A 40-m, three-bladed wind
turbine produces 600 kW at a windspeed of 14 m/s. Air density is the standard 1.225 kg/m 3.
Under these conditions,
a. At what rpm does the rotor turn when it operates with a TSR of 4.0?
b. What is the tip speed of the rotor?
c. If the generator needs to turn at 1800 rpm, what gear ratio is needed to match the rotor
speed to the generator speed?
d. What is the efficiency of the complete wind turbine (blades, gear box, generator) under
these conditions?

Solution:

Rotor diameter, D = 40 m
Pout = 600 kW
v = 14 m/s
ρ = 1.225 kg/m3
(a) rpm = ?
TSR = 4
 rpm× πD
TSR =
60 v
TSR× 60 v
rpm =
πD
4 × 60 ×14
=
π × 40
= 26.7 rev/min
(b) Tip speed = ?
rpm× πD
Tip speed =
60
26.7 × π ×40
=
60
= 55.9 m/s
(c) generator rpm = 1800 rpm
Gear ratio = ?
Gernerator rpm N s
Gear ratio = =
Rotor rpm NR
1800
= = 67.4
26.7
(d) overall efficiency = ?
1 3
Pw = ρA v
2
2
1 π × 40 3
= ×1.225 × ×14
2 4
= 2112 kW
P out
overall efficiency = ×100 %
P¿
600
= × 100 %
2112
= 28.4 %

Example 6.8 Slip for an induction motor A 60-Hz, four-pole induction motor reaches its
rated power when the slip is 4%. What is the rotor speed at rated power?
Solution:

f = 60 Hz

p = 4 poles

s = 4 % = 0.04
NR = ?

120 f
Ns=
P

120× 60
=
4

= 1800 rpm

NR = (1 – s) Ns

= (1 – 0.04) × 1800

= 1728 rpm

Example 6.10 Average Power in the Wind. Estimate the average power in the wind at a
height of 50 m when the windspeed at 10 m averages 6 m/s. Assume Rayleigh statistics, a
standard friction coefficient α = 1/7, and standard air density ρ = 1.225 kg/m3.
Solution:

P50 = ?

H50 = 50 m
H10 = 10 m
v 10 = 6 m/s
α = 1/7
ρ = 1.225 kg/m3

( )
α
v 50 H 50
=
v 10 H 10

( )
α
H 50
v 50 = v 10 ×
H 10

( )
1 /7
50
= 6×
10
= 7.55 m/s
6 1 3
P50 = × ρv
π 2
6 1 3
= × ×1.225 ×(7.55)
π 2
= 503 W/m2