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I am designing a wind turbine to generate 1300 W.

I modeled the output voltage of an AC generator using the following specifics:

  • Number coil turns = 300.
  • Copper wire gauge = 1.02 mm.
  • Knowing the density of copper, I calculated the weight of the coil to be 4.39 kg.
  • Magnetic field strength = 1.24 T. (here are the specs for the magnet)
  • Area = 1 m2.
  • Rotational speed = 45 RPM.

I plugged these numbers into the output voltage equation:

$$\epsilon = NBA\omega\sin(\omega t)$$

to get a value of 1753 V. I am assuming that my generator will generate at least the 0.74 A to output a power of 1300 W.

Then, I modeled my turbine. I used the equation:

$$P_T = \frac{1}{2}\rho A v^3 C_p$$

to calculate rotor power. I assumed:

  • My turbine would be 30% efficient.
  • The wind velocity would be 10 m/s.
  • The area swept by blades would be 2.63 m2.
  • The density of air would be 1.25.

After plugging these values in, I get a power yield of 493 W. However, I find that the rotor speed is well above 45 RPM. This equation gives the tip speed ratio of the turbine:

$$\lambda = \frac{wr}{v}$$

Knowing that the optimum tip speed ratio of a three-blade turbine is 4.2, radius of the rotor blade is 0.915 m, and velocity of air is 10 m/s, that angular velocity would be 45.9 rad/s or 440 RPM.

How can I get 1300 W from this turbine when the theoretical yield from power of the rotor is only 493 W, even though my rotor should turn at the correct RPM for the generator to produce 1300 W?

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    $\begingroup$ Converting this to rpm would yield 440 rpm That's quite fast for a wind turbine. It will probably shake itself to pieces. $\endgroup$
    – grfrazee
    Mar 29, 2016 at 13:35
  • $\begingroup$ @EnergyNumbers what am I doing wrong? $\endgroup$
    – user510
    Mar 29, 2016 at 14:01
  • $\begingroup$ the kinetic energy of wind gives a power yield of 1643.89W (without multiplying Cp). However, I am assuming my turbine will be 30% efficient; thus, I am getting a rotor power of 493W. My turbine has a very small swept area, so is my assumption that my efficiency of the turbine be 30% false?? I know the power coefficient is related to tip speed ratio and pitch, but will the small area also have an effect? $\endgroup$
    – user510
    Mar 29, 2016 at 14:47
  • $\begingroup$ @user510 What's the source of energy for a wind turbine and how do you capture it? If the rotor power you calculated is too low, what design value(s) do you have the greatest ability to control and how do you change those values to capture more of the wind's energy? $\endgroup$
    – Air
    Mar 30, 2016 at 23:26
  • $\begingroup$ It sounds like you are working backwards, you need to first design a turbine which will generate the power you need and then design a generator to suit that power requirement. The dimensions of a generator give you its maximum capacity they don't guarantee that it will generate that amount of power. You may also want to look at existing generators specs for a reality check. $\endgroup$
    – Chris Johns
    Mar 30, 2016 at 23:27

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I don't think you really designed a 1300 W wind turbine. You assumed your generator would be able to produce the necessary current but to be able to produce 1300 W you have to build a wind turbine big enough, given its efficiency.

At $C_p=0.3$ and $v=10\ \mathrm{m/s}$, you simply need an area of: $$A=\frac{2P_T}{C_pv^3\rho}=7.07\ \mathrm{m^2}$$ $$\Rightarrow R=1.5\ \mathrm{m}$$

Moreover, you say $\lambda=4.2$ is optimal for a three-blade turbine, but it actually depends on the blade profile, which is optimized for a given "design tip speed ratio". For more information about this, see chapter 3.7 of "Burton, Wind energy handbook, 2011".

See also "Duquette, Numerical Implications of Solidity and Blade Number on Rotor Performance of Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbines, 2003" about influence of blade number on power coefficient.

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  • $\begingroup$ so the generator's max power output should match the rotor's max power output? $\endgroup$
    – user510
    Mar 30, 2016 at 21:53
  • $\begingroup$ No, the generator max power should be a bit higher than the rated output of the rotor, because gusts of wind might exceed the rated wind speed ($v=10m/s$) and make the wind turbine output more than 1300W. But ultimately the whole system won't output more power than the rotor. $\endgroup$
    – snickers
    Mar 31, 2016 at 6:56

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