Catchment Based Aerodynamic Performance Analysis of Small Wind Turbine Using a Single Blade Concept for a Low Cost of Energy
For low and medium wind conditions, there is a possibility to harness maximum wind potential reducing the cost of energy by employing catchment-based wind turbine designs. This paper aims to study catchment-based small wind turbine aerodynamic performance for improved efficiency and reduced cost of...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-11-01
|
| Series: | Energies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/21/5838 |
| _version_ | 1797548447230853120 |
|---|---|
| author | Hailay Kiros Kelele Torbjørn Kirstian Nielsen Lars Froyd Mulu Bayray Kahsay |
| author_facet | Hailay Kiros Kelele Torbjørn Kirstian Nielsen Lars Froyd Mulu Bayray Kahsay |
| author_sort | Hailay Kiros Kelele |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | For low and medium wind conditions, there is a possibility to harness maximum wind potential reducing the cost of energy by employing catchment-based wind turbine designs. This paper aims to study catchment-based small wind turbine aerodynamic performance for improved efficiency and reduced cost of energy. Hence, design parameters are considered based on specific conditions within a catchment area. The bins and statistical methods implemented with Weibull distribution of wind data for selected sites to characterize the wind conditions and a weighted average method proposed to create representative wind conditions implementing a single blade concept. The blade element method was applied using Matlab code (version R2017a, MathWorks Inc., Natick, MA, US) for aerodynamic design and analysis, and computational fluid dynamics employed using ANSYS—Fluent (version 18.1, ANSYS Inc., Canonsburg, PA, USA) for validation. The performance of the designed blade is evaluated based on annual energy production, capacity factor and power coefficient. Then, for site-specific wind conditions, yearly energy production, and relative cost of energy are examined against rated power. Appropriate rated power for a low cost of energy identified and performance measures evaluated for each site. As a result, a maximum power coefficient of around 51.8% achieved at a design wind speed of 10 m/s, and higher capacity factors of 28% and 50.9% respectively attained for the low and high wind conditions at the proposed rated powers. Therefore, for different wind condition sites, enhanced performance at a low cost of energy could be achieved using a single blade concept at properly selected rated powers employing suitable design conditions and procedures. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:59:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-03550432bc0c425d902027377b21c877 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:59:26Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-03550432bc0c425d902027377b21c8772023-11-20T20:15:21ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732020-11-011321583810.3390/en13215838Catchment Based Aerodynamic Performance Analysis of Small Wind Turbine Using a Single Blade Concept for a Low Cost of EnergyHailay Kiros Kelele0Torbjørn Kirstian Nielsen1Lars Froyd2Mulu Bayray Kahsay3Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, KolbjørnHejes v 1B, 7491 Trondheim, NorwayDepartment of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, KolbjørnHejes v 1B, 7491 Trondheim, Norway4Subsea AS, Hagaløkkveien 26, 1383 Asker, NorwaySchool of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Mekelle University, P.O. Box 231 Mekelle, EthiopiaFor low and medium wind conditions, there is a possibility to harness maximum wind potential reducing the cost of energy by employing catchment-based wind turbine designs. This paper aims to study catchment-based small wind turbine aerodynamic performance for improved efficiency and reduced cost of energy. Hence, design parameters are considered based on specific conditions within a catchment area. The bins and statistical methods implemented with Weibull distribution of wind data for selected sites to characterize the wind conditions and a weighted average method proposed to create representative wind conditions implementing a single blade concept. The blade element method was applied using Matlab code (version R2017a, MathWorks Inc., Natick, MA, US) for aerodynamic design and analysis, and computational fluid dynamics employed using ANSYS—Fluent (version 18.1, ANSYS Inc., Canonsburg, PA, USA) for validation. The performance of the designed blade is evaluated based on annual energy production, capacity factor and power coefficient. Then, for site-specific wind conditions, yearly energy production, and relative cost of energy are examined against rated power. Appropriate rated power for a low cost of energy identified and performance measures evaluated for each site. As a result, a maximum power coefficient of around 51.8% achieved at a design wind speed of 10 m/s, and higher capacity factors of 28% and 50.9% respectively attained for the low and high wind conditions at the proposed rated powers. Therefore, for different wind condition sites, enhanced performance at a low cost of energy could be achieved using a single blade concept at properly selected rated powers employing suitable design conditions and procedures.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/21/5838capacity factorannual energy productioncost of energysingle blade conceptrated powerperformance analysis |
| spellingShingle | Hailay Kiros Kelele Torbjørn Kirstian Nielsen Lars Froyd Mulu Bayray Kahsay Catchment Based Aerodynamic Performance Analysis of Small Wind Turbine Using a Single Blade Concept for a Low Cost of Energy Energies capacity factor annual energy production cost of energy single blade concept rated power performance analysis |
| title | Catchment Based Aerodynamic Performance Analysis of Small Wind Turbine Using a Single Blade Concept for a Low Cost of Energy |
| title_full | Catchment Based Aerodynamic Performance Analysis of Small Wind Turbine Using a Single Blade Concept for a Low Cost of Energy |
| title_fullStr | Catchment Based Aerodynamic Performance Analysis of Small Wind Turbine Using a Single Blade Concept for a Low Cost of Energy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Catchment Based Aerodynamic Performance Analysis of Small Wind Turbine Using a Single Blade Concept for a Low Cost of Energy |
| title_short | Catchment Based Aerodynamic Performance Analysis of Small Wind Turbine Using a Single Blade Concept for a Low Cost of Energy |
| title_sort | catchment based aerodynamic performance analysis of small wind turbine using a single blade concept for a low cost of energy |
| topic | capacity factor annual energy production cost of energy single blade concept rated power performance analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/21/5838 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hailaykiroskelele catchmentbasedaerodynamicperformanceanalysisofsmallwindturbineusingasinglebladeconceptforalowcostofenergy AT torbjørnkirstiannielsen catchmentbasedaerodynamicperformanceanalysisofsmallwindturbineusingasinglebladeconceptforalowcostofenergy AT larsfroyd catchmentbasedaerodynamicperformanceanalysisofsmallwindturbineusingasinglebladeconceptforalowcostofenergy AT mulubayraykahsay catchmentbasedaerodynamicperformanceanalysisofsmallwindturbineusingasinglebladeconceptforalowcostofenergy |