Power, thrust and optimum rotors

1D Momentum theory for wind turbines

Henrik Bredmose

Learning objectives
After this lecture you will be able to:
Explain how the wind flow is braked as it passes a wind turbine
Explain the theory behind the optimum power production of an idealized rotor

Flow through rotor

Wind sees rotor as a braking disc

1D momentum theory

Pressure drop
Mass conservation

0 0 = = 1 1

The Bernoulli equation from section 0 to rotor and from rotor to section 1

1 2
1 2
0 + 0 = +
2
2
1 2
1 2
+ + = 0 + 1
2
2

1
= 02 12
2

Momentum conservation

Assume pressure p0 around edges of control volume:

+

Divide with

0 02

1 12

+ =

1 12

0 0 = 1 1 =

1
= 0 + 1
2

1
+ 02 12
2
1 02 12
0 = 1 +
2

velocity in rotor plane, u, is average of V0 and u1

Axial induction factor

Axial induction factor a

= 1 0
1 = 1 2 0
Power:
Thrust:

1
1
2
2
= = 0 1 = 02 4 1
2
2
1
= 02
2
1
1
2
= = 0 1 0 = 03
2
2

Thrust coefficient cT

= 4 1
Power coefficient CP

= 4 1

The optimum rotor (Betz limit)

Axial induction factor a

= 1 0

Optimize CP with respect to a:

3
= 4 1 1 3 = 0 =

1
,

4 2
=
3 3

16
=
= 0.59
27

Power coefficient CP

= 4 1

Summary
In this lecture you have learnt:

That a rotor removes kinetic energy from the wind

How basic fluid mechanics laws can utilized to describe the flow
That an optimal rotor can extract 16/27=0.59 of the in-coming kinetic energy