Parametric Studies on Wind Turbine Generators Using Wilson Walker Method Based on Blade Element Momentum Theory and Field Data

Abstract

Currently, the World energy crisis has been affording a platform to significant energy paucity and environmental challenges such as Global warming and increase of energy demand. In this regard, wind energy is one of the most efficient and an effective alternative source of energy forms among them to meet the future energy requirements all over the World. A rapid development towards the wind energy accelerated the authors to do a thorough literature review on Wind Turbine Blades (WTBs), though there is a limited effort has been made. The capacity of Global wind energy installed is 5,91,000 MW as on March 2018. The main objective of this research work is a study on the behavior and performances of wind turbine blades. In addition, it reviews the performance variation due to design, aerodynamic performance of wind turbine blades. This work highlighted the important of wind energy and the various factors affecting the performance of wind farms. This makes this structure sensitive to over speed. The power of the wind increases directly with the cube of the wind speed. So that, the wind turbine should be survive much higher loads to generate power. The Betz limit shows that the maximum Coefficient of Performance (Cpmax) obtainable is 0.593. There are various ways to limit the power if the wind speed is exceeded. It is designed to produce power between the cut-in speed (Vi) and cut-out (Vo) speed of 3-4 m/s and 25 m/s respectively. The Cpmax of 0.508 has been achieve data Tip Speed Ratio (TSR) of 8. This has indicated a less Cp than the Betz limit because of drag and tip losses. There are several methods to improve the performance of Wind Turbine Generators (WTGs). In this research work the Blade Element Momentum Theory is highlighted with considering the factors. When considering all the factors the performance of the Wind Turbine Generator (WTG) is increased upto 0.528. The field data performance analyses also carried out, as a case study. To study a certain optimum parameters viz., wind speed, operating time, pow