Renewable Energy

Wind Energy

R. N. Govardhan
Room No. 111
Mechanical Engineering
Types of Wind turbine
History

The windwheel of the Greek engineer

Heron of Alexandria in the 1st
century AD is the earliest known
instance of using a wind-driven
wheel to power a machine.[1][3]

Another early example of a wind-

driven wheel was the prayer wheel,
which was used in ancient Tibet and
China since the 4th century.
History – Steam turbines

Aeolipile, invented in the first century by Hero

of Alexandria, is considered to be the first
recorded steam engine.

The name —derived from the Latin words

"aeoli" and "pila"— translates to "the ball of
Aeolus" ;

An aeolipile is a device consisting of an air-tight

chamber (the sphere) with bent or curved pipes
projecting from it, through which steam is expelled
in such a way as to create forces whose vectors are
perpendicular to the radius of rotation, creating a
net torque.
Panemone windmill

The earliest recorded windmill design

found was Persian in origin, and was
invented around 500–900 AD. This
design was the panemone, with
vertical lightweight wooden sails
attached by horizontal struts to a
central vertical shaft. It was first built
to pump water, and subsequently
modified to grind grain as well.

A diagram of a panemone whose wind-

catching panels are arranged to turn
edge-on to the wind when moving
against the wind's thrust, and side-on
when moving downwind to harness the
wind's motion. A panemone primarily
uses drag.
Electricity from wind

The first windmill used for the production of electricity was built in Scotland in July 1887
by Prof James Blyth of Anderson's College, Glasgow (the precursor of Strathclyde
University).[11] Blyth's 10 m high, cloth-sailed wind turbine was installed in the garden of
his holiday cottage at Marykirk in Kincardineshire and was used to charge accumulators
developed by the Frenchman Camille Alphonse Faure, to power the lighting in the
cottage,[11] thus making it the first house in the world to have its electricity supplied by
wind power.[12]
Wind farms
 Wind power
A quantitative measure of the wind energy available at any location is
called the Wind Power Density (WPD) It is a calculation of the mean
annual power available per square meter of swept area of a turbine, and
is tabulated for different heights above ground. Calculation of wind power
density includes the effect of wind velocity and air density. Color-coded
maps are prepared for a particular area described, for example, as "Mean
Annual Power Density at 50 Metres".

Wind turbines are classified by the wind speed they are designed for, from
class I to class IV, with A or B referring to the turbulence.[13]

Avg Wind
Class Turbulence
Speed (m/s)
IA 10 18%
IB 10 16%
IIA 8.5 18%
IIB 8.5 16%
IIIA 7.5 18%
IIIB 7.5 16%
IVA 6 18%
IVB 6 16%
Turbomachine definition

Devices in which energy is transferred either to, or

from, a continuously flowing fluid by the dynamic
action of one or more moving blade rows.

“Turbo” or “turbinis”: Latin origin – implies that which spins or whirls

Claude Burdin coined the term during an 1828 engineering competition.

Rotating blade row, a rotor or an impeller changes the stagnation

enthalpy of the fluid moving through it by either doing positive or
negative work - (pump/turbine)
Classification of turbomachines
Function
Turbomachines

Power producing Power absorbing

(turbines) (pumps, compressors)

Steam turbines Fans

Gas Turbines Compressors (gas)
Hydro turbines Pumps (liquids)
-- responsible for -- increase pressure
almost all power (aviation, air-conditioning,
generation hydraulic systems)
Power producing

Hydro turbine Wind turbine

Power absorbing

Oil Pump Gas Turbine compressor

 Classification of turbomachines
Flow path through rotor
Turbomachines

Axial flow machine Radial flow machine

Path of the through-flow is mainly Path of the through-flow is in a plane mainly

parallel to the axis of rotation perpendicular to the axis of rotation

Mixed

axis of rotation
Axial / Radial machines
Identify them ?

Wind turbine
 Impulse / Reaction machines
Turbomachines

Impulse machines Reaction machines

Pressure changes are absent The pressure of the fluid changes as it

Impulse turbine: change the passes through the turbine rotor
direction of flow of a high velocity blades.
fluid jet. Before reaching the
Francis turbines and most steam turbines
turbine the fluid's Pressure head is
use this concept.
changed to velocity head by
accelerating the fluid with a nozzle.
e.g. Pelton wheels
Impulse / Reaction turbine
Impulse turbine Reaction turbine
Pelton wheel Francis turbine

Degree of Reaction
Axial machines
Axial turbine
Wind turbines
A wind turbine is a machine for converting
the kinetic energy in wind into mechanical
energy. If the mechanical energy is used
directly by machinery, such as a pump or
grinding stones, the machine is usually
called a windmill. If the mechanical energy
is then converted to electricity, the machine
is called a wind generator.

Horizontal axis

Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWT) have the

main rotor shaft and generator at the top of a Horizontal axis wind turbine, the Enercon
tower, and must be pointed into the wind by some model E-66 wind energy converter, in
means. Small turbines are pointed by a simple wind Germany. The tower is 98 meters high and
vane, while large turbines generally use a wind the rotor diameter is 70 meters.
sensor coupled with a servomotor. Most have a
gearbox too, which turns the slow rotation of the
blades into a quicker rotation that is more suitable
for generating electricity.
2D Aerodynamics
3D Aerodynamics
 Wind turbines – vertical axis
Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (or VAWTs) have the main
rotor shaft running vertically. The advantages of this
arrangement are that the generator and/or gearbox
can be placed at the bottom, near the ground, so the
tower doesn't need to support it, and that the turbine
doesn't need to be pointed into the wind. Drawbacks
are usually the pulsating torque produced during each
revolution, and the difficulty of mounting vertical axis
turbines on towers, meaning they must operate in the
slower, more turbulent air flow near the ground, with
lower energy extraction efficiency.

In the original versions of the Darrieus design, the aerofoils are

arranged so that they are symmetrical and have zero rigging angle,
that is, the angle that the aerofoils are set relative to the structure on
which they are mounted. This arrangement is equally effective no
matter which direction the wind is blowing -- contrast to the
conventional type, which must be rotated to face into the wind. When
the Darrieus rotor is spinning, the aerofoils are moving forward
through the air in a circular path. Relative to the blade, this oncoming
airflow is added vectorially to the wind, so that the resultant airflow
creates a varying small positive angle of attack (AoA) to the blade.
This generates a net force pointing obliquely forwards along a certain
Darrieus wind turbine
'line-of-action'. As the aerofoil moves around the back of the
apparatus, the angle of attack changes to the opposite sign, but the
generated force is still obliquely in the direction of rotation, because
the wings are symmetrical and the rigging angle is zero.
Savonius wind turbines

Savonius wind turbines are a type

of vertical-axis wind turbine.

Savonius turbines are one of the

simplest turbines.
Aerodynamically, they are
drag-type devices, consisting
of two or three scoops.

Savonius turbines are used

whenever cost or reliability is
much more important than
efficiency. The most
ubiquitous application of the
Savonius wind turbine is the
which is commonly seen on
the roofs of vans and buses
and is used as a cooling
device.
Wells turbine
One of the biggest problems involving
wave power generation was the simple fact
that salt water is a highly corrosive substance,
especially when in contact with mechanical
parts for long durations of time. This was
resolved in the design of the OWC by using
forced air instead of seawater to rotate the
generator. The next problem encountered was
trying to utilize the two way air flow provided
by the OWC.

The Wells turbine was designed by Alan

Wells in the late 1980’s. Its primary focus was
to develop a turbine that could accept two way
flow while only spinning in one direction,
regardless of the direction of the water or
airflow.

The blades are similar to an airfoil except that

they are symmetrical. An airfoil only utilizes the lift
force provided, while the Wells turbine uses the lift
and drag force to obtain a self-rectifying generator
rotation. When the air moves in the positive or
negative y direction the blades rotate in the same
direction.
Wind turbines
A wind turbine is a machine for converting
the kinetic energy in wind into mechanical
energy. If the mechanical energy is used
directly by machinery, such as a pump or
grinding stones, the machine is usually
called a windmill. If the mechanical energy
is then converted to electricity, the machine
is called a wind generator.

Horizontal axis

Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWT) have the

main rotor shaft and generator at the top of a Horizontal axis wind turbine, the Enercon
tower, and must be pointed into the wind by some model E-66 wind energy converter, in
means. Small turbines are pointed by a simple wind Germany. The tower is 98 meters high and
vane, while large turbines generally use a wind the rotor diameter is 70 meters.
sensor coupled with a servomotor. Most have a
gearbox too, which turns the slow rotation of the
blades into a quicker rotation that is more suitable
for generating electricity.
 Wind turbines – vertical axis
Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (or VAWTs) have the main
rotor shaft running vertically. The advantages of this
arrangement are that the generator and/or gearbox
can be placed at the bottom, near the ground, so the
tower doesn't need to support it, and that the turbine
doesn't need to be pointed into the wind. Drawbacks
are usually the pulsating torque produced during each
revolution, and the difficulty of mounting vertical axis
turbines on towers, meaning they must operate in the
slower, more turbulent air flow near the ground, with
lower energy extraction efficiency.

In the original versions of the Darrieus design, the aerofoils are

arranged so that they are symmetrical and have zero rigging angle,
that is, the angle that the aerofoils are set relative to the structure on
which they are mounted. This arrangement is equally effective no
matter which direction the wind is blowing -- contrast to the
conventional type, which must be rotated to face into the wind. When
the Darrieus rotor is spinning, the aerofoils are moving forward
through the air in a circular path. Relative to the blade, this oncoming
airflow is added vectorially to the wind, so that the resultant airflow
creates a varying small positive angle of attack (AoA) to the blade.
This generates a net force pointing obliquely forwards along a certain
Darrieus wind turbine
'line-of-action'. As the aerofoil moves around the back of the
apparatus, the angle of attack changes to the opposite sign, but the
generated force is still obliquely in the direction of rotation, because
the wings are symmetrical and the rigging angle is zero.
Wells turbine
One of the biggest problems involving
wave power generation was the simple fact
that salt water is a highly corrosive substance,
especially when in contact with mechanical
parts for long durations of time. This was
resolved in the design of the OWC by using
forced air instead of seawater to rotate the
generator. The next problem encountered was
trying to utilize the two way air flow provided
by the OWC.

The Wells turbine was designed by Alan

Wells in the late 1980’s. Its primary focus was
to develop a turbine that could accept two way
flow while only spinning in one direction,
regardless of the direction of the water or
airflow.

The blades are similar to an airfoil except that

they are symmetrical. An airfoil only utilizes the lift
force provided, while the Wells turbine uses the lift
and drag force to obtain a self-rectifying generator
rotation. When the air moves in the positive or
negative y direction the blades rotate in the same
direction.
Wind turbines
A wind turbine is a machine for converting
the kinetic energy in wind into mechanical
energy. If the mechanical energy is used
directly by machinery, such as a pump or
grinding stones, the machine is usually
called a windmill. If the mechanical energy
is then converted to electricity, the machine
is called a wind generator.

Horizontal axis

Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWT) have the

main rotor shaft and generator at the top of a Horizontal axis wind turbine, the Enercon
tower, and must be pointed into the wind by some model E-66 wind energy converter, in
means. Small turbines are pointed by a simple wind Germany. The tower is 98 meters high and
vane, while large turbines generally use a wind the rotor diameter is 70 meters.
sensor coupled with a servomotor. Most have a
gearbox too, which turns the slow rotation of the
blades into a quicker rotation that is more suitable
for generating electricity.
Actuator disk theory

Velocity

Pressure
 Actuator disk theory
Mass:

Momentum:
Actuator disk theory
Using:
Betz limit
Turbine tip speed/V
Betz limit
 Wind turbines – vertical axis
Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (or VAWTs) have the main
rotor shaft running vertically. The advantages of this
arrangement are that the generator and/or gearbox
can be placed at the bottom, near the ground, so the
tower doesn't need to support it, and that the turbine
doesn't need to be pointed into the wind. Drawbacks
are usually the pulsating torque produced during each
revolution, and the difficulty of mounting vertical axis
turbines on towers, meaning they must operate in the
slower, more turbulent air flow near the ground, with
lower energy extraction efficiency.

In the original versions of the Darrieus design, the aerofoils are

arranged so that they are symmetrical and have zero rigging angle,
that is, the angle that the aerofoils are set relative to the structure on
which they are mounted. This arrangement is equally effective no
matter which direction the wind is blowing -- contrast to the
conventional type, which must be rotated to face into the wind. When
the Darrieus rotor is spinning, the aerofoils are moving forward
through the air in a circular path. Relative to the blade, this oncoming
airflow is added vectorially to the wind, so that the resultant airflow
creates a varying small positive angle of attack (AoA) to the blade.
This generates a net force pointing obliquely forwards along a certain
Darrieus wind turbine
'line-of-action'. As the aerofoil moves around the back of the
apparatus, the angle of attack changes to the opposite sign, but the
generated force is still obliquely in the direction of rotation, because
the wings are symmetrical and the rigging angle is zero.
Darrieus design
Savonius wind turbines

Savonius wind turbines are a type

of vertical-axis wind turbine.

Savonius turbines are one of the

simplest turbines.
Aerodynamically, they are
drag-type devices, consisting
of two or three scoops.

Savonius turbines are used

whenever cost or reliability is
much more important than
efficiency. The most
ubiquitous application of the
Savonius wind turbine is the
which is commonly seen on
the roofs of vans and buses
and is used as a cooling
device.