Technische Universitt Mnchen

Prof. Dr.-Ing. H.-P. Kau Module Fluid Machinery 12 - 1

Chapter 12
12. Wind power plants
1. Environmental conditions
2. Examples
3. Specifications
4. Advantages and Disadvantages
5. Realised designs
6. Design
Technische Universitt Mnchen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. H.-P. Kau Module Fluid Machinery 12 - 2
Environmental conditions of wind turbines
Approx. 1.5 to 2.5% of the sunss energy is transformed to wind giving a theoretical windpotential
of 35 * 10
11
kWh/a for Germany. From this amount of wind energy only 2 * 10
11
kWh/a are
technically usable since the wind velocity has to be between 4 and 24 m/s. This results in a wind
energy of 40 to 8000 W/m
2
.
Resulting from the required wind
velocities the typical operational area of
wind turbines in Germany is north of the
line Aachen-Kassel-Erfurt-Chemnitz-
Dresden.
The wind velocity is more permanent
above a height of 50m over ground
which eases the efficient use of wind
turbines.
Technische Universitt Mnchen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. H.-P. Kau Module Fluid Machinery 12 - 3
Wind conditions Europe and Germany
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Averaged wind
velocity in 10m
above ground
to
Technische Universitt Mnchen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. H.-P. Kau Module Fluid Machinery 12 - 4
Munich waste disposal site
Hub height: 67m
Nominal power: 1500kW
Technische Universitt Mnchen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. H.-P. Kau Module Fluid Machinery 12 - 5
Offshore Windpark Middelgrunden
20 wind turbines (2MW Bonus Energy A/S,
rotor diameter: 76m)
180m distance
4-8m Water Depth
Wind speed at 50m: 7.2m/s
3,4km overall length
Per Year Output: 89 GWh
Technische Universitt Mnchen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. H.-P. Kau Module Fluid Machinery 12 - 6
Specifications of a wind turbine
Simple design and low manufacturing costs
Rugged construction (gust and storm-proof
design)
Low maintenance
Low-noise operation
High efficiency
Turnable tower
Rotor blades are adjustable at hub
Interconnected operation or possibilities to store
the obtained energy
For example pumped or compressed air
storage plants
Rotor blade
Connection to
power supply
Foundation
Tower
Rotor hub and
blade adjustment
Wind tracking
Generator
Nacelle
Gear box
Brake
Switschboard &
control system
Technische Universitt Mnchen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. H.-P. Kau Module Fluid Machinery 12 - 7
Advantages and disadvantages of a wind turbine
Hydropower plant Wind turbine Oil / coal / gas
power plant
Nuclear power plant
Fuel reserve + Renewable energy:
timely unlimited
+ Renewable energy:
timely unlimited
- approx. 50 years - approx. 50 years =>
fast breeder reactor?
Local existence - Often not at the
location where
energy is needed
- Often not at the
location where energy
is needed
+ easily transportable + Comparatively easy to
transport
Upgradability - Limitied - Limitied + short-term
unlimited
+ short-term hardly
unlimited
Emissions no emission from
power plant, but CO
2
-
emission from
reservoir
Noise emission,
shadow strike
- Waste heat, CO
2
-
and NO
x
-emission
- Waste heat, radiation
near to the plant?
Efficiency + approx. 90% approx. 45% - approx. 35 60% - approx. 35%
Disposal problems + no + no - Disposal of ash and
gypsum
- Final disposal
unsolved!
Accident hazard,
probability
+ very low + very low medium + with corresponding
monitoring effort very
low
Consequences - Dam breaks: very
huge damages,
short-term
+ very low + limited range,
short-term
- Explosion: extreme
consequences, short-
and long-term
+

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Technische Universitt Mnchen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. H.-P. Kau Module Fluid Machinery 12 - 8
Advantages and disadvantages of a wind turbine
Hydropower plant Wind turbine Oil / coal / gas power
plant
Nuclear power plant
Land consumption River power station
small, storage power
plant maybe very
high
Comparatively high,
land remains arable
+ small + small
Environmental impact + managable, overall
nearly neutral
+ managable, overall
nearly neutral
- managable, clearly
negative
- ??
Dismanteling + possible, maybe
complex
+ very easy + easy - Very complex
Operation: Control + Very fast adjustable - Not adjustable Coal slow, CCGT fast - Only slowly
adjustable
Availibility + Very high + Very high medium + Very high
Investment costs - Very high + medium + medium high
Amortisation Approx. 20 years Approx. 5 to 10 y. Approx. 5 to 15 y. Approx. 15 y.
Maintenance + low + low medium medium - high
Life + 40 to 100 years - 10 to 20 y. - 10 to 30 y. approx. 30 y.
Construction time 2 to 10 years Approx. 1 year 1 to 3 y. 5 to 10 y.
+

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Technische Universitt Mnchen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. H.-P. Kau Module Fluid Machinery 12 - 9
Basic classification of wind turbines
Horizontal spool machinery
Vertical spool machinery
Lift using machinery
Drag using machinery
Most common design: Horizontal spool machinery with lift using blades
a) Multiblade converter b) Twoblade turbine c) Threeblade turbine
d) Cased turbine e) Darrieus machine f) H-Rotor
g) Savonius rotor h) Flettner rotor i) Cup rotor
j) Half cased drag rotor
Technische Universitt Mnchen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. H.-P. Kau Module Fluid Machinery 12 - 10
Arrangement of the geared power train in horizontal machinery
Gearbox and
generator in the
nacelle (common
design)
Generator
vertically
mounted in the
tower head
Gearbox and
generator in the
tower base
Gearbox in the
tower head and
generator in the
tower base
Generator in the
tower base
Gearbox is split
Directly driven
generator
without gearbox
Technische Universitt Mnchen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. H.-P. Kau Module Fluid Machinery 12 - 11
Vertical spool machinery
Parabolic rotor Cylindrical rotor
Advantages and
disadvantages in
comparison with a horizontal
spool machinery:
+ less moving parts
+ no driven orientation
necessary
+ smaller forces
- lower efficiency
- poorer performance
Blade
Bearing
Circular
generator
Technische Universitt Mnchen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. H.-P. Kau Module Fluid Machinery 12 - 12
Principle of a generator used in wind turbines
Technische Universitt Mnchen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. H.-P. Kau Module Fluid Machinery 12 - 13
Example Nordex N80 / 2500 kW
1. Rotor blades
2. Hub
3. Engine frame
4. Bearing, established in double-row spherical roller bearings
5. Shaft
6. Twostage planetary drive
7. Disc brake
8. Generator coupling
9. Water-cooled generator.
10. Cooling-system for generator and gearbox
11. Cooling-system for generator
12. Redundant wind measuring system
13. Control
14.
Hydraulic system for the hydraulic pressure of the brake cylinders
and the yaw brakes
15. Azimuth drive
16. Azimuth bearing
17. Nacelle made of glassfibre reinforced plastic
18. Tubular steel tower
19. Pitchsystem (three independant, electrically driven pitch gear units)
Technische Universitt Mnchen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. H.-P. Kau Module Fluid Machinery 12 - 14
Data sheet Nordex N80
Rotor Generator
Number of blades 3

Power 2.500 kW
Speed 10.9 bis 19.1 /min

Currency 660V
Rotordiameter 80 m

Typ Double-fed induction generator, liquid-
cooled
Swept ares 5.026 m2

Speed 740-1.310 /min
Power control Pitch

Protection class IP 54
Startwind 3 m/s

Mass ca. 12.000 kg
Stopwind 25 m/s
Orientation control
Rated power at approx. 15 m/s

Surviving wind speed 65 m/s according tp GL class 1 / 70 m/s
according IEC Tclass 1
Azimuth bearing Ball bearing
Pitch control Single blade pitch Brake hydraulic, Disc brake
Mass approx. 50.000 kg

Drive Two induction motors with integrated
brakes


Speed approx. 0.5 0/s
Gearbox Tower
Typ Threestage planetary spur gearbox

Design Modular tubular steel tower, cylindrical /
top segment conical or truss tower, hot-
dipped
Gear ratio 02:08.1

Hub height Tubular steel tower 60 m, certificate IEC
1a, DIBt 3
Mass approx. 18.500 kg

Truss tower 80 m, certificate IEC 1a, NVN
1a, DIBt 3

Status: 09/2005 (subject to technical modifications)

Technische Universitt Mnchen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. H.-P. Kau Module Fluid Machinery 12 - 15
Energy transformation: Stream theory
The wind flowing into the wind turbine (1) with the velocity v
1
is decelerated. Kinetic energy is withdrawn from the wind to
drive the rotor (A). The deceleration of the air stream in the
rotor causes a stream expansion (dilatation) (2).
A pressure increase occurs downstream at the inside of the
stream. Inside the rotor (A) a pressure decrease takes place.
At some distance upstream and downstream of the rotor at
position (1) and (2) the pressure is equal to the ambient
pressure p
0
on the entire cross-section. Hence for a annular
cross-section the relative velocity becomes |w
1
| = |w
2
|.
p
t
A
Technische Universitt Mnchen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. H.-P. Kau Module Fluid Machinery 12 - 16
Formulas of the stream theory
Power withdrawn from the stream at the massflow :
Thrust of the rotor:
Actio = Reactio Thrust of the rotor corresponds to
the force which the rotor exerts on the fluid
Average velocity in the rotor plane:
Massflow through the rotor:
Mechanical power of the rotor:
) (
2
1
2
2
2
1
v v m P =
m
) (
2 1
v v m F =
v v v m v F P ' = ' = ) (
2 1

v v v m v v m P ' = = ) ( ) (
2
1
2 1
2
2
2
1

2
) (
2 1
v v
v
+
= '
) (
2
1
2 1
v v A m + =
) )( (
4
1
2 1
2
2
2
1
v v v v A P + =
Technische Universitt Mnchen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. H.-P. Kau Module Fluid Machinery 12 - 17
Betz theory about the power of a wind turbine
Betz coefficient:
A v P
3
1 0
2
1
=
1
2
2
1
2
3
1
2 1
2
2
2
1
0
1 1
2
1
...
2
1
) )( (
4
1
v
v
v
v
Av
v v v v A
P
P
c
P
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
= =
+
= =

The maximum of the Betz coefficient is at for (Betz factor) for

an ideal, frictionless flow.
593 , 0
27
16
= =
P
c
3
1
1
2
=
v
v
Power of the airflow at the cross-section A without any power withdrawn:
Technische Universitt Mnchen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. H.-P. Kau Module Fluid Machinery 12 - 18
Power characteristics of wind turbines
R
Rotor power as a function of the wind velocity: with c
PR
= Betz coefficient of the rotor
Betz factor c
p
A v c P
PR R
3
1
2

=
B
e
t
z

c
o
e
f
f
i
c
i
e
n
t
Fast runner
Theoretic power coefficient of an ideal wind turbine
3-blade
rotor
2-blade rotor
Single blade
rotor
Slow runner
Darrieus
rotor
Dutchmans windmill
American windmill
Tip speed ratio
Technische Universitt Mnchen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. H.-P. Kau Module Fluid Machinery 12 - 19
Real characteristics according to the number of blades
Gradual approximation of
the real rotor characteristic
with the help of the theory
2 3
R
Number of
blades
P
o
w
e
r

c
o
e
f
f
i
c
i
e
n
t
Tip speed ratio at design point
Capability of the air flow
Ideal Betz factor
Swirl losses
Profile losses
Finite number of blades
Technische Universitt Mnchen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. H.-P. Kau Module Fluid Machinery 12 - 20
Power control through pitch
The power generated by the wind turbine has to be controlled due to the technically limited capacity
of the generator, due to safety aspects and to the purpose of keeping the power generation constant.
One possibility is to decrease the pitch angle of the rotor blades (pitch control).
Technische Universitt Mnchen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. H.-P. Kau Module Fluid Machinery 12 - 21
Power control through stall
The rotor blades stall at a fixed pitch angle and at a
constant circumferential velocity when the wind velocity
raises. This effect limits the power output of the wind
turbine so this can be used to control the plant (stall
control).
The design of the plant has to be modified:
Increased stiffness and ruggedness of the entire plant is
necessary to withstand the higher aerodynamic loading
Comparatively high generator power necessary to cover
peak power
Improved starting capabilities of the rotor (2-blade rotor
needs an electrical starter)
Technische Universitt Mnchen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. H.-P. Kau Module Fluid Machinery 12 - 22
Power
Factor Formula
Theoretical maximum possible power coefficient of the rotor:
(Betz factor)
Rotor efficiency:
(caused by aerodynamic losses of the rotor)
Betz coefficient:
(modern rotor designs obtain a Betz coefficient of approx. 0.5)
Efficiency of all mechanical and electrical components:
From the efficiency of the rotor and all remaining components the effciency
of the wind turbine is calculated:
Effective power of the wind turbine:
(Electrical power of the plant)
593 . 0 =
P
c
g R P PR
c c
,
q =
85 . 0 7 . 0
,
~
g R
q
el mech,
q
el mech PR Plant P
c c
, ,
q =
Rotor Plant P el
A v c P
3
1 ,
2

=
Technische Universitt Mnchen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. H.-P. Kau Module Fluid Machinery 12 - 23
Principal sequence of the wind turbine desing
Iterative proces
(maximum energy
supply)
Design wind
data
Rotor
diameter
Generator
power
Tower
height
Rotor performance
map
Av. wind velocity and frequency
distribution in hub height
Management
and control
Optimum rotor
speed
effective rotor
characteristic
Mech. and el. losses
in power train
Wind data at
installation location
Power characteristic of
plant P
el
Energy supply