Technical Note

Horizontal axis wind turbine working at maximum power

coefcient continuously
R. Lanzafame, M. Messina
*
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria, 6-95125 Catania, Italy
a r t i c l e i n f o
Article history:
Received 3 November 2008
Accepted 14 June 2009
Available online 18 July 2009
Keywords:
Horizontal axis wind turbine
Maximum power coefcient
Annual Energy production
a b s t r a c t
The performance of a horizontal axis wind turbine continuously operating at its maximum power
coefcient was evaluated by a calculation code based on Blade Element Momentum (BEM) theory. It was
then evaluated for performance and Annual Energy Production (AEP) at a constant standard rotational
velocity as well as at a variable velocity but at its maximum power coefcient.
The mathematical code produced a power coefciency curve which showed that notwithstanding
further increases in rotational velocity a constant maximum power value was reached even as wind
velocity increased.
This means that as wind velocity varies there will always be a rotational velocity of the turbine which
maximises its coefcient. It would be sufcient therefore to formulate the law governing the variation in
rotational velocity as it varied with wind velocity to arrive at a power coefcient that is always the same
and its maximum.
This work demonstrates the methodology for determining the law governing the rotational velocity of
the rotor and it highlights the advantages of a wind turbine whose power coefcient is always at
maximum rather than very variable in line with the variation of wind velocity.
2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
1. Introduction
Design parameter choice is critical for optimising wind
turbine performance. For any xed diameter there are various
parameters inuencing energy production: rotor rotation
velocity, blade number, airfoil chord distribution and longitu-
dinal blade twist.
In this paper the inuence of rotor rotational velocity on wind
turbine performance has been investigated. In particular, it has
been observed that there exists a mathematical lawon the variation
of rotor rotational velocity with wind speed, which allows the wind
turbine to always operate at its maximum power coefcient.
It is well known that a wind turbine power coefcient presents
a maximum value for a particular wind speed, which decreases
rapidly for all other wind velocities. Vice versa, varying the rotor
rotational velocity at different wind speeds, it is possible to have
a power coefcient which is always at its maximum value.
To investigate this analysis thoroughly, and to evaluate the
mathematical law on rotor rotational velocity, the authors applied
a numerical model [3], based on BEM theory [1,2], and validate it
through experimental measurements [4].
The mathematical model based on BEM (Blade Element
Momentum) theory is the most frequently used by Science and
Industry [4,612]. It enables the design of rotor blades by uid
dynamics, and the evaluation of wind turbine performance (in
design and off-design conditions). Using this model, it is possible to
design the rotor, choose the geometric characteristics of the turbine
(rotor diameter, aerodynamic airfoils, chord, pitch and twist), and
evaluate the forces acting on the blades, the torque and power at
the rotor shaft. It is also possible to evaluate turbine performance
with a wide range of wind velocities.
The BEM theory is based on the Glauert propeller theory [12],
modied for application to wind turbines. In recent years the BEM
theory has been optimized and modied to provide increasingly
accurate results. For the numerical stability of the mathematical
model the greatest difculties are determining axial and tangential
induction factors, the lack of experimental measurements on airfoil
lift and drag coefcients at high angles of attack, and their three-
dimensional representation. In order to take the three-dimensional
representation into account, the wind tunnel experimental
measurements must be modied in order to consider radial ow
along the blades (centrifugal pumping [4]).
* Corresponding author.
E-mail address: mmessina@diim.unict.it (M. Messina).
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Renewable Energy
j ournal homepage: www. el sevi er. com/ l ocat e/ renene
0960-1481/$ see front matter 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.renene.2009.06.020
Renewable Energy 35 (2010) 301306
2. Mathematical code
The mathematical model for the uid dynamics wind turbine
design (and for the WT performance evaluation), developed in
a previous work [3], is based on Blade Element Momentum Theory.
By applying momentum and angular momentum conservation
equations, the axial force and torque acting on the blade sector is
obtained (as given in Equations (1) and (2)),
dN
r
2
V
2
0
1 a
2
sin
2
f
N
b
C
L
cos f C
D
sin f c dr
1
(1)
dM
r
2
V
0
1 a
sinf
$
u r
1
1 a
0

cos f
N
b
C
L
sin f C
D
cos f c r
1
dr
1
(2)
and thus the torque M at the rotor shaft is the summation of dM for
all the blade sectors.
The wind turbine power is given by P M
*
u, where u is the
rotor angular velocity.
The lift (C
L
) and drag (C
D
) coefcients for a given airfoil are
evaluated from wind tunnel measurements [6]. The experimental
values were tted to obtain mathematical functions to apply to the
simulation model. To t the experimental data to the lift and drag
coefcients, a fth-order logarithmic polynomial (shifted by 10
degrees) was implemented for the Attached FlowRegime and High
Lift, Stall Development Regime Dynamic Stall (see [3] for the
aerodynamic regions denition), as shown in Equations (3) and (4).
As described in [3], centrifugal pumping (3D aerodynamic
effects) was taken into account (Equation (5)) with a slight incre-
ment in the C
L
experimental values in the early region of the Flat
Plate, Fully Stalled Regime.
C
L

5
i 0
a
i
lna 10
i
(3)
C
D

5
i 0
b
i
lna 10
i
(4)
The a
i
andb
i
coefcients were determinedbymeans of the least square
method, tting experimental data for the S809 airfoil at Re 10
6
.
For the Flat Plate, Fully Stalled Regime the mathematical
functions of Equations (5) and (6) were implemented.
C
L
2 C
Lmax
$sin a$cos a (5)
C
D
C
Dmax
$sin
2
a (6)
In Equation (7) C
Lmax
and C
Dmax
are shown.
C
Lmax
C
L
j
a 45
and C
Dmax
C
D
j
a 90
(7)
The numerical stability of the mathematical code depends on
tangential and axial induction factors. In this code the induction
factors, reported in Equations (8)(10), were implemented [3].
For a <0.4:
a
1
4F sin
2
f
c N
b
2p r1
C
L
cos f C
D
sin f
1
(8)
while for a !0.4 [7]:
a
18F 20 3

C
N
50 36F 12F 3F 4
_
36F 50
(9)
and
a
0

1
2
_
1
4
l
2
r
a1 a

1
_
(10)
As reported in [4] and [8], F is the Prandtl Tip Loss Factor, and is
dened as:
F
2
p
ar cos
_
exp
_
N
b
r
1
R
1

2 r
1
sin f
__
(11)
To verify the validity of the mathematical code, the simulated
data was compared with the NREL data from the NASA-Ames wind
tunnel tests [4]. The UAE Phase VI wind turbine has two twisted
blades, a variable chord along the blade, and a rotor diameter of
10 m [5]. The aerodynamic airfoil is the S809 and is constant along
the blades; the pitch is three degrees and rotational velocity is
72 r/min. Fig. 1 shows a comparison between the simulated and
Nomenclature
a axial induction factor
a
0
tangential induction factor
r
1
blade local radius
c airfoil chord
c
i
twist logarithmic polynomial coefcients
a
i
C
L
logarithmic polynomial coefcients
b
i
C
D
logarithmic polynomial coefcients
c
0
Weibull scale parameter
n rotor rotational velocity
w
s
wind speed
v wind velocity
v mean wind velocity
WT wind turbine
AEP annual energy production
BEM blade element momentum
HAWT horizontal axis wind turbine
R
1
wind rotor radius
Re Reynolds number
V
0
wind velocity far up stream
N rotor normal force
C
L
lift coefcient
C
D
drag coefcient
N
b
number of blades
M torque
F Tip loss factor
C
P
power coefcient
C
N
normal force coefcient
P power
K Weibull shape parameter
P
w
power of a wind machine
E
w
energy from a wind machine
q twist
a angle of attack
4 incoming ow direction angle
r air density
l
r
local speed ratio
R. Lanzafame, M. Messina / Renewable Energy 35 (2010) 301306 302
experimental data showing that there is good agreement between
the experimental and simulated power and power coefcient (C
p
).
3. Numerical simulations
Numerical simulations were carried out to evaluate wind
turbine performance where the rotational velocity is constant and
then compare it with that of the same turbine with a rotational
velocity varying as wind velocity varies.
3.1. Reference wind turbine: n const
Using a calculation code ne-tuned by the authors [3], the
performances were evaluated of a wind turbine with the following
characteristics: two blade rotor, rotational velocity of 72 r/min,
external diameter of 10 m, twist and chord as per Figs. 2 and 3,
aerodynamic cross-section and prole as per aerodynamic prole
S809. The power coefcient and power produced by this turbine are
reported in Figs. 4 and 5. In particular, the twist was determined so
as to maximise AEP (23.5 MWh/year) at a site with a modest wind
distribution (Fig. 6).
An ample description of the calculation code, mathematical
models and validation of the code with experimental measure-
ments are all reported in [3].
The power coefcient reported in Fig. 4 shows typical behaviour
with a max value of 0.37 at a wind velocity of 6.2 m/s, whereas Fig. 5
shows the power curve of the same turbine (P
rated
10 kWat wind
velocity 11 m/s).
3.2. Wind turbine performance at variable rotational velocity:
n sconst
Having evaluated wind turbine performance at constant rota-
tional velocity with AEP maximised, it was then compared to that of
the same turbine at variable rotational velocity.
Using the mathematical code reported in [3], the various power
curves at varying rotational velocities were calculated (Fig. 7).
Note how at low velocities turbine performance is better at low
wind velocities. Fig. 7 shows that power is greater and cut-in
velocity is ever lower as rotational velocity decreases (this allows
turbine start-up at ever lower wind velocities). Vice versa, low
rotational velocities have the disadvantage of peaking at lowpower
(P
rated
).
To exploit the low rotational velocities advantages as well as
those at high velocities (high values of rated power), the rotor must
turn at varying speeds with the variation of wind velocity. It is
therefore necessary to work out the mathematical law which
describes this.
This in turn means that the rotor should always be working at
maximum efciency.
To work out the law, the various C
p
(power coefcients) need to
be evaluated for the various rotor rotational velocities.
Once the power curves at the different velocities have been
noted, the power coefcient can be evaluated by Eq. (12):
C
p

P
1
2
rV
3
0
pR
2
1
(12)
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00
r [m]
CHORD [m]
Fig. 3. Chord distribution.
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
0.4
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
C
p
Wind Speed [m/s]
Fig. 4. Power coefcient for max AEP at n const.
PHASE VI
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
5 10 15 20 25
Wind Speed [m/s]
P
o
w
e
r

[
k
W
]
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
0.4
C
p

[
-
]
Exp. Power Simulated Power
Exp. Cp Simulated Cp
Fig. 1. PHASE VI wind turbine performances. Numerical code validation. Comparison
between simulated and experimental data.
0
4
8
12
16
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
T
w
i
s
t

[
d
e
g
]
Blade radius [m]
twist [deg]
Pol.Log.
Fig. 2. Twist for max AEP.
R. Lanzafame, M. Messina / Renewable Energy 35 (2010) 301306 303
At various rotor velocities, the behaviours of the various power
curves cp can be plotted against wind velocity (Fig. 8).
Note how as rotation velocities vary the power coefcient curve
produces the same maximum Cp even as wind velocity increases.
Fig. 8 shows how the wind turbine can work at maximum ef-
ciency by varying the rotational velocity as wind velocity changes.
Fig. 9 shows the link between the rotational velocity at which
the rotor ought to rotate and varying wind velocities.
Inorder for the turbine towork at maximumefciency (Fig. 9), the
relationship between rotational velocity and wind velocity is linear.
Varying the rotor velocity produces the dashed lines in Figs. 10
and 11.
To avoid excessive rotor loads, the power generated (P
rated
,
Fig. 11) should be limited, always acting on the rotor velocity.
4. Regulating power
Once a maximum value for the rated power (P
rated
) is estab-
lished, the power is kept constant (straight line in Fig. 11) , always
acting on the rotation velocity.
For example, if the rated power is 20 kW, the law of rotor
velocity is represented by the straight line in Fig. 12. Frompoint A to
B, turbine efciency is constant (at maximum); from point B to C
turbine power is limited.
To deduce the law of rotor velocity during power regulation
(phase BC), it is sufcient to read the various values of rotation
velocity on the power curves which intersect with the constant
value of P
rated
(in this case 20 kW). These values can then be read
against wind speed in Fig. 12. For every pair of (n, w
s
) values (n:
rotational velocity; w
s
: wind speed) Fig. 10 can provide the corre-
sponding power coefcients.
The dashed line in Fig. 13 shows the working points of the wind
turbine.
5. Comparing annual energy production
In managing a wind farm, or more simply a single rotor, what is
most important is to maximise annual energy production so as to
repay the investment.
To measure the annual energy production (AEP), the two wind
turbines were compared, one operating at constant velocity
(therefore power coefcients steeply decreasing from their
maximumas wind speed varies, Fig. 4), and the second operating at
varying rotor velocities (power coefcient always maximum up to
the rated power).
The comparison refers to the wind distribution in Fig. 6.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25
P
o
w
e
r

[
k
W
]
Wind Speed [m/s]
Fig. 5. Power curve for max AEP at n const.
Fig. 6. Wind Speed probability density function.
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
0 5 10 15 20 25
P
o
w
e
r

[
k
W
]
Wind Speed [m/s]

30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
130
140
150
160
170
180
190
200
Power curves n [r/min]
n
Fig. 7. Power curves at varying rotational velocities of the rotor.
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
0.30
0.35
0.40
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
C
p
Wind Speed [m/s]
POWER COEFFICIENT
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
130
140
150
160
170
180
190
200
n [r/min]
n
Fig. 8. Power coefcient at varying rotor velocities.
R. Lanzafame, M. Messina / Renewable Energy 35 (2010) 301306 304
Clearly, AEP will increase directly with the rise in P
rated
, so as to
make the comparison signicant, P
rated
is limited to 10 kW (so too
the reference turbine Fig. 5) and its highlighted advantages will
only derive from low rotor velocities, not high ones.
The bold line in Fig. 14 shows the new power curve for variable
rotational velocities. P
rated
is set at 10 kW and at low wind speeds
the closeness of the power curve to the Betz limit curve means the
turbine is working at high power coefcients. Fig. 14 also shows the
wind speedrange interms of probability density (pdf) by histogram.
What was described about the power coefcient can also be
seen in Fig. 15. Note how the power coefcient remains at
maximum for low wind speeds, whereas once P
rated
is reached, it
decreases in order to regulate the power produced.
With the turbine at variable rotor velocity, the annual energy
produced is 26.5 MWh/year. This means an increase of 12.77% over
a wind turbine operating at n const.
In short, taking account of structural aspects, it would be
possible to raise P
rated
, and further increase AEP as in Table 1.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
0
0.02
0.04
0.06
0.08
0.1
0.12
0.14
0.16
0.18
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25
P
o
w
e
r
,

P
w
,

[
k
W
]
F
r
e
q
u
e
n
c
y

H
i
s
t
o
g
r
a
m
Wind Speed [m/s]
pdf
Power, Pw, [kW]
Betz limit [kW]
Fig. 14. Power curve at variable rotor velocity n sconst.
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
r
o
t
a
t
i
o
n
a
l

v
e
l
o
c
i
t
y


[
r
/
m
i
n
]
wind speed [m/s]
Cp max
Fig. 9. The relationship between turbine rotor velocity and wind velocity.
Fig. 10. Effective c
p
curve.
Fig. 11. Effective power curve.
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
0.4
0
50
100
150
200
250
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
C
p
r
o
t
a
t
i
o
n
a
l

v
e
l
o
c
i
t
y

[
r
p
m
]
wind speed [m/s]
n [rpm]
Cp
A
B
C
Fig. 12. Trends of rotational velocity and power coefcient during regulation.
Fig. 13. Effective power curve during regulation.
R. Lanzafame, M. Messina / Renewable Energy 35 (2010) 301306 305
6. Conclusions
This work produced a methodology which allows a horizontal
axis wind turbine to work continuously at its maximum power
coefcient.
A wind turbine operating at constant rotational velocity has
a maximum power coefcient for a given wind velocity which
decreases as wind speed decreases.
On the other hand, according to a law of the rotor velocity
rotation as a function of wind speed, it is possible to make a hori-
zontal axis wind turbine work continuously at its maximum power
coefcient.
To determine this law, a calculation code based on Blade
Element Momentum theory which had already been validated by
experimental measurements in scientic literature and numerous
simulations, was produced to create a power curve and power
coefcient as the rotational velocity of a wind rotor varied.
Finally, a comparison was made between the annual energy
produced (AEP) by a wind turbine at constant rotational velocity
and the same turbine at variable velocities. The comparison high-
lighted an increase in AEP of about 13% for the turbine working at
variable velocity.
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0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
0.4
0.45
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
C
p
Wind Speed [m/s]
Fig. 15. Power coefcient at variable rotor velocity n sconst.
Table 1
Percentage increase in AEP as rated power (comparison with n sconst) increases.
% P
rated
P
rated
[kW] AEP [MWh/year] % AEP
0 10 26.5 0
20 12 28.8 8.68
40 14 30.4 14.71
60 16 31.9 20.37
80 18 33.4 26.03
R. Lanzafame, M. Messina / Renewable Energy 35 (2010) 301306 306