Bahrain World Trade Centre

Name Mohamed Alsubaie

MMU ID 09562211
Supervisor Dr. Mahera Musallam
Assignment Wind Turbine Design
Subject Renewable Power Systems
Unit code 64ET3901
BEng (Hons) Computer and
Course
Communication Engineering
Table of Content

TABLE OF CONTENT 1

TABLE OF FIGURES 2

TABLE OF TABLES 2

1. INTRODUCTION 3

1.1 ABOUT BWTC 3

2. BACKGROUND 4

2.1 WINDS IN BAHRAIN 4

3. TOWERS SHAPE 5

4. WIND TURBINE 7

5. BRIDGES 8

6. ECONOMIC ANALYSIS 8

7. CONCLUSION 9

8. REFERENCES 10

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Table of Figures
FIGURE-1: BAHRAIN WORLD TRADE CENTRE. 4

FIGURE-2: TOWERS EFFECTS ON CHANGING WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION. 6

FIGURE-3: CFD MODEL SHOWING AIRFLOW PATTERNS NEAR TOWERS. 6

FIGURE-4: WIND TURBINE COMPONENT. 7

FIGURE-5: THE POWER CURVE FOR NORWIN 225KW TURBINES. 7

FIGURE-6: THE V-SHAPE OF THE BRIDGE. 8

FIGURE-7: ANNUAL ENERGY YIELD FOR NORWIN 225KW TURBINES. 8

Table of Tables
TABLE-1: WIND SPEED AND POWER DENSITY FOR YEARS 2003–2005 IN
BAHRAIN AT DIFFERENT HEIGHT. 5

TABLE-2: WIND TURBINE DETAILS (NORWIN 225KW). 7

TABLE-3: ENERGY YIELD. 9

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 Bahrain World Trade Centre

1. Introduction

Thousands of years ago, human beings learned how to use wind as an energy source. The
first usage of the wind power was to sail ships on the ocean. Then, it was been used to grind
grains and pump water. In addition, due to the development in the world wind power has
been used to generate electricity, because it offers pollution-free solutions, excellent
supplement and it is renewable source. Today, large wind-power plants are supplying an
economical clean power in many part of the world. Wind turbines are normally located far
from people who use it. However, Bahrain World Trade Centre is a modern project aims to
benefit from the wind energy and convert it into useful energy to be used in skyscrapers or
commercial buildings.

This report covers the design aspect of BWTC project. It will describe the details of
the building location, physical characteristics, economic and performance of wind power
system showing how innovative ideas have come together to create this unique building.

1.1 About BWTC

The Bahrain World Trade Centre was completed in 2008 costing about $150 million. It was
the master-plan of rejuvenating an existing shopping mall and hotel on Bahrain’s capital “Al-
Manama” which is site at the edge of the Arabian Gulf. The concept design of the twin
towers was inspired by the traditional Arabian Wind Towers in that very shape of buildings
harness the unobstructed prevailing onshore breeze from the gulf, providing a renewable
source for this project. Previous research and attempts at integration turbines were not
successful because it very expensive. Such endeavours would raise cost of the project up to
30%. However, designers from Atkins Architects and Norwin turbine specialists were able to
design an integrated turbine system that will only needs 3% on the project costs. This
lowered construction costs and creative design make the BWTC a significant step toward
innovated cost effective designs. Moreover, this project has generates a new standard for
sustainable development by using the first horizontal axis wind turbines (Killa and Smith,
2008).

The twin towers reach a height of 240m (787 ft) and support three 29m diameter large scale
horizontal axis wind turbines. The two 50 storey sail shaped office towers provide a new
shopping centres, accommodation, restaurants and business centres (Alnaser, 2008).

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The Bahrain World Trade Centre generates a new standard model for innovation in
sustainable design as the first skyscraper in the world to insert large scale wind turbines
within its structure. This project received many awards in the area of sustainability, 2006
LEAF Award, The Arab Construction World for Sustainable Design Award, a 2008 ‘Best
Tall Building Award’, and finally an honourable mention in the 2009 NOVA (Wu, 2009).

Figure-1: Bahrain World Trade Centre.

2. Background

2.1 Winds in Bahrain

Most of the studies show that the average wind speed in Bahrain is between 5 and 6 m/s with
north to north west direction. In this case, the wind energy potential is not consider to be an
economically viable because the full load hours of wind per year do not exceed 1360 h/y.
Moreover, the electricity supply from the wind dose not exceeds 0.1 TWh/year which is very
low comparing to all Middle East and North Africa region (Bachellerie, 2012).

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However, another study was continued in investigating the wind power distribution at height
of 10m, 30m and 60m. The study found that, the average annul wind speed 4.56 m/s for 10m
height, 6.96 m/s for 30m height, and 8.65 m/s for 60m height. While, the average annul wind
power density in 10m height is 114.54 W/m², in 30m height is 433.29 W/m², and in 60m
height is 816.70 W/m² (Table-1). These results were showing good wind potential and strong
winds of long duration which is suitable for wind power production (Jowder, 2009).

Table-1: Wind speed and power density for years 2003–2005 in Bahrain at different height.

3. Towers Shape

An important factor that makes this project successful is the towers physical characteristics.
The shape and curves of the twin towers acts as an airfoil and funnels winds coming from the
Arabian Gulf between them. Servicing as airfoils, the towers can reroute wind to amplify the
wind speed at the wind turbine location of up to 30% (Killa and Smith, 2008). It can be
clearly seen in figure-2, that the building is creating a negative pressure zone behind, which
accelerate the velocity of wind towards the turbines. Since wind speed change with height,
the higher turbine will spin faster and create more power than the lower turbines. The
engineers found that the key of making the turbines work is the shape of the towers.
Therefore, the building has a tapered shape in order to adjust for these changing wind speeds.
The turbines will have approximately stable vertical velocity profile, where the lower, centre
and higher turbines are almost equal at 93%, 100% and 109%, respectively, even with higher
wind speeds at higher altitudes. The towers shape allows any wind coming with in 45º angle
to either side of the central axis will generate a wind stream perpendicular to the propellers,
considerably increasing the turbines ability to harness wind streams (Wu, 2009).

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 Figure-2: Towers effects on changing wind speed and direction.

An extensive wind tunnel modelling has been validated using CFD modelling showing that
the incoming is in effect deflected by the towers forming an S-shape streamline which passes
between the towers, as it illustrated in figure-3. Engineers predict that the turbine will be able
to work with wind directions between 270° and 360°. However, caution has been applied by
increasing the limits of the range of the operating turbine predictions and initial operating
regimes between 285° and 345°. The turbine will automatically adopt a “standstill” mode for
all wind direction outside of this range (Killa and Smith, 2008).

Figure-3: CFD model showing airflow patterns near towers.

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4. Wind Turbine

The towers are linked by three sky bridges with each holding a 29m diameter horizontal-axis
wind turbine. They have been mounted at 60m, 120m and 180m high between the two
towers. The three wind turbines, which have a 20-year life, were lifted into place in March
2007 and they turned together for the first time in April 2008. Each turbine has the capacity
to generate 225kW power production of energy totally 674kW (Killa and Smith, 2008). A
summary of the turbine details can be found on table-2 below.

Table-2: Wind turbine details (Norwin 225kW).

The turbine has rotor blades, nacelle, bridge,

control, monitoring and safety systems and
electrical building interface. The nacelle is
the cowling containing break, gearbox,
shafts, generator, cooling system and
associated control systems. The generators
are of a four-pole 400V asynchronous
induction type, which require little
maintenance and can be controlled by
centres established in the towers (Wu,2009).
Figure-4: Wind turbine component.
The stall control is responsible for cutting-
out wind speed of 20 m/s. With limiting the
power of the turbine at high speed wind,
turbulence on the leeward side of the blades
prevents lift and stabilizes output to
maximum. According the plot on figure-5,
the turbine full power of 225kW is achieved
at wind speed between 15 to 20 m/s,
depending on air density (Alnaser, 2008).
Figure-5: The power curve for Norwin
225kW turbines.
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5. Bridges

The structures of the bridges have been design to be strong enough to hold the 11 tonnes
wind turbines. The bridges of 31.7m length are having curved shapes for aerodynamic
purposes in order to absorb the vibration of wind and vibrations from operating and standstill
of the turbine (Alnaser, 2008).

Moreover, the bridge is having a V-shape, in order to deal with the blade deflection during
extreme operating conditions and to have enough clearance and thus avoid blade strike. It can
be clearly seen in figure-6, that blade clearance to the bridge of 1.12m is achieved with V-
shape of 173 º angle. Even in worst scenario with extending the blades tips, the safety margin
required will be 1.35m, and with this condition the clearance is still achieved (Killa and
Smith, 2008).

Figure-6: The V-shape of the bridge.

6. Economic Analysis

The total cost of Bahrain World Trade Centre

building is $150 million. Only 3% of the total
cost is the price for the wind turbine system.
The three wind turbines operate about 50% of
the time. The planned energy yield from the
turbines taking into account wind and
availability data is summarised in table-3
below. Therefore, the total annual amount is
Figure-7: Annual energy yield for Norwin
225kW turbines.

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between 1,100 and 1,300 MWh per year. This is approximately 11% - 15% of the entire
structures total power consumption, which is also enough to power up to 300 home. In
carbon emission terms this equates to an average of 55,000 kgC. Since turbines are being
placed over 60m above ground and between towers, the yield might even be higher (Killa
and Smith, 2008).

Table-3: Energy yield.

Turbine # 1 340 to 400 MWh/year
Turbine # 2 360 to 430 MWh/year
Turbine # 3 400 to 470 MWh/year

7. Conclusion

Categorizing the entirety of the BWTC as a “true green” initiative and project simply is not
true. According to the European and other world-wide standard, this building is not intended
to be a low carbon emission solution and only reduced the carbon emission comparing to
other buildings.

However, the design and construction of the building and the integration of large scale wind
turbines into it has involved extensive research and development by probably some of the
most capable specialists available. In addition, it should be appreciate and understand this
project as a pioneering step toward sustainability design through the potentials of modern
engineering and architecture.

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8. References

Alnaser, N.W., 2008. Towards Sustainable Buildings in Bahrain, Kuwait and United Arab
Emirates. [pdf] Available at:
<http://www.benthamscience.com/open/tobctj/articles/V002/30TOBCTJ.pdf> [Accessed 10
January 2013].

Bachellerie, I. J., 2012. Renewable Energy in the GCC Countries Resources, Potential, and
Prospects. [pdf] Available at: <http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/amman/09008.pdf>
[Accessed 10 January 2013].

Jowder, F. A. L., 2009.Wind power analysis and site matching of wind turbine generators
in Kingdom of Bahrain. [pdf] Available at:
<http://ipac.kacst.edu.sa/edoc/1430/176905_1.pdf> [Accessed 10 January 2013].

Killa, S. and Smith, R. S., 2008. Harnessing Energy in Tall Buildings: Bahrain World
Trade Center and Beyond. [pdf] Available at:
<http://www.ctbuh.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=DGjD8kpuHRk%3D&tabid=1720&lan
guage=en-GB> [Accessed 10 January 2013].

Wu, K., 2009. Bahrain World Trade Center. [pdf] Available at:
<http://www.greendesignetc.net/Buildings_09/Bulding_Wu_Kevin_paper.pdf> [Accessed 10
January 2013].

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