THERMAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY REPORT

WIND ENERGY TRAINING SYSTEM

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, CALICUT

Submitted to
Dr. T.J.S.JOTHI
Professor, Department of Mechanical engineering

Submitted by
NEMANA ABHISHEK M190078ME
MOTILAL CHAVHAN M190179ME
OBJECTIVE:
 To evaluate the cut-in speed of the wind turbine blade.
 Demonstrate the power analysis at different branches of wind turbine energy
system with DC load only.
 Draw the curve between TSR and coefficient of power.

EXPERIMENTAL SETUP:
The system is made up of three parts.
1) Artificial wind generation unit,
2) Wind turbine
3) Control unit or measuring unit.
Wind generating unit consist of an induction motor with a fan- hub sub unit and a
variable frequency drive. This unit consist of a fan with 7 blades and generate wind at
different speeds. Wind turbine unit consist of three rotor blades fixed on the hub and a
generator. This unit will generate 3-phase electrical power of variable frequency.
Control unit consist of tachometer in built in the power analyzer, charge controller,
battery and inverter. Other than these systems a load in the form of incandescent lamps
are also available. The detailed layout is shown in the figure.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Rotor : Fixed pitch, dia 1.24 m, 3 blade.
Blade : Length 0.62 m

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:
To find the cut-in speed
 Set the frequency as 1 or 2 Hz and press RUN button so that the fan gets start.
 Note down the power developed and rpm from the power analyzer.
 If the power developed is zero, then increase the frequency by 0.5 Hz press SET
button.
 Repeat the above procedure until the meter shows a power value.
 Using an Anemometer note down the air velocity (cut-in speed) when the turbine
starts rotating.
 Make sure that the velocity measured is the average velocity at different vertical
positions.
To demonstrate the power analysis at different branches of wind turbine with DC
load only:
 Set the frequency at required level and press RUN button so that the fan gets start.
 Wait for at least 8-10 min to stabilize the wind speed.
 Using an anemometer note down the air velocity.
 Make sure that the velocity measured is the average velocity at
different vertical positions.
 Note down the rpm from the power analyzer.
 Increase the frequency by 0.2 Hz press SET button so that wind velocity is
increased. Repeat the above procedure for different wind speed up to 13m/sec.

PRECAUTIONS:
 Don’t stand very close to the fan or turbine.
 Don’t try to perform experiment alone.
 Make sure that turbine output always connected to measuring unit or not.
 Always check the supply frequency before running the fan.
 OBSERVATIONS:
Cut-in speed: At very low wind speed, there is insufficient torque exerted by the
wind on the turbine blades to make them rotate. However, as the speed increases,
the wind turbine will begin to rotate and generate electrical power. The speed at
which the turbine first starts to rotate and generate power is called the cut-in speed.
The speed at which the turbine first starts to rotate and generate power is called the
cut-in speed. Which is obtained as 3 to 5 from the three experiments conducted.
The speed at which the turbine first starts to rotate and generate power is
called the cut-in speed. Which is obtained as 3 to 5 from the three experiments
conducted.

Table 1. Calculation of TSR at different wind speeds:

Wind Rotor Turbine Angular Wind TSR CoP

speed speed power velocity power( (10-3)
(m/s) (rpm) (w) (rad/s) w)
8.7 793 2.05 83.04 456.16 5.72 4.49
9.32 825 3.9 86.39 560.79 5.56 6.95
9.67 850 4.46 89.01 626.38 5.52 7.12
10.2 867 4.8 90.79 735.12 5.34 6.53
10.47 894 5.23 93.62 795.05 5.36 6.58
10.61 921 5.76 96.45 827.38 5.45 6.96

Table 2. Calculation of power output at different wind speeds:

AC AC POWER BATTERY BATTERY INVERTER INVERTER

VOLTAGE(V) CURRENT(I) FACTOR VOLTAGE(V) CURRENT(I) INPUT(I) (V)
9.62 0.756 0.533 10.95 0.1 5.057 423
10.31 0.766 0.66 11.31 0.1 5.057 423
10.46 0.976 0.756 11.41 0.1 5.057 423
10.51 1.036 0.772 11.57 0.1 5.057 423
10.61 1.181 0.78 11.68 0.1 5.057 423
10.75 1.3 0.787 11.69 0.1 5.057 423

GENERATED WIND SPEED POWER POWER

 ACTIVE (m/s) CONSUMED BY CONSUMED BY DC
POWER(OUTPUT)(w) BATTERY(w) LOAD(w)
6.29 8.7 1.095 2139.11
6.84 9.32 1.131 2139.11
8.84 9.67 1.141 2139.11
9.43 10.2 1.157 2139.11
10.85 10.47 1.168 2139.11
12.1 10.61 1.169 2139.11

SAMPLE CALCULATIONS: (At v=8.7 m/s)

Radius of the rotor, r = 0.62 m

Velocity, v = 8.7 m/s

Rotor speed, N =793 rpm

Angular velocity, ω = 2𝜋𝑁 = 2 ∗ 𝜋 ∗ 793 = 83.04 rad/s

60 60

TSR = 𝜔∗𝑟
𝑣 = 83.04∗0.62
8.7 = 5.72

Density of air, ρ = 1.225 kg/m3

Wind power = (Ρav3)/2 = (1.225*22/7*0.6*0.6)*8.73/2 = 456.16 W

Coefficient of performance= generated power/wind power
= 2.05/456.16 = 4.49*10-3

Generated active power= sqrt(3)*V*A*cosφ

=6.29 W
Power consumed by battery = V*I = 10.95*.1= 1.095 W
Power consumed by DC load = V*I = 5.057*423 = 2139.11 W

GRAPHS:
1.TSR vs Wind speed:

TSR vs WIND SPEED

5.8

5.7

5.6

5.5
TSR

5.4

5.3

5.2

5.1
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
WIND SPEED

2.TSR VS COEFFICIENT OF POWER:

TSR vsCoP
8

5
COP*10-3

0
5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8
TSR
 3.GENERATED POWER vs WIND SPEED:
GENERATED POWER vs WIND SPEED
12

10

8
wind speed

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Generated power

INFERENCE:
 The cut-in speed obtained is 7.3m/s.
 The values obtained from the experiment are not reliable due to the huge
fluctuations in readings. However it is observed that the trend of graphs
seems almost similar to original one.