AE1005V User Guide 1121

AE1005V
Wind Turbine Dynamics

User Guide
© TecQuipment Ltd 2021, Original Instructions
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manual accurate and up to date. However, if there are any
errors, please let us know so we can rectify the problem.
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equipment. Carefully check the contents of the package(s)
against the list. If any items are missing or damaged, contact
TecQuipment or the local agent.
BW/1121
Symbols Used in this Manual
AE1005V Wind Turbine Dynamics
Contents
Introduction .................................................................. 1
Description ................................................................... 3
VDAS® (Versatile Data Acquisition System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Technical Details ............................................................ 7
Sound Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Installation and Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Handling Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Assembly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Electrical Connection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Operating Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Opening the Door. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Measuring Wind Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Setting the Yaw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
AE1005V Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Restart Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Fitting / Removing Blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3D Printing Turbine Blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Theory and Notation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Notation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Wind Turbine Theory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Types of Wind Turbine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
In Depth Breakdown of HAWT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Blade Theory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
AE1005V Blade Characteristics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Rotor Positioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Experiments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Using VDAS® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
TecQuipment Ltd User Guide

Experiment 1 - Testing TSR Against Varying Pitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Experiment 2 - Collecting Comparative Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Experiment 3 - The Effect of Wind Speed on Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Experiment 4 - Effect of Yaw Angle on CP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Results: Experiment 1 - Testing TSR Against Varying Pitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Results: Experiment 2 - Collecting Comparative Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Results: Experiment 3 - The Effect of Wind Speed on Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Results: Experiment 4 - Effect of Yaw Angle on CP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Care and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Anemometer Rail System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Sliding Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Spare Parts and Customer Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Spare Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Customer Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
AE1005V
Wind Turbine Dynamics
User Guide
Introduction
Figure 1 AE1005V Wind Turbine Dynamics
This Product has VDAS® Onboard
Wind turbines are used to convert kinetic wind energy into electrical energy by turning a generator. In
commercial applications this energy is then distributed throughout the electrical grid. The Wind Turbine
Dynamics apparatus (AE1005V) demonstrates how wind power is converted to electrical power and the
impact blade design and other variables have on the energy harvesting process.
Renewable energy is continually being driven forward by tighter regulations on carbon output from
governments around the world. As a result of this, wind turbines are being installed to supply nations with
power that would have previously been produced by burning fossil fuels.
TecQuipment Ltd 1 User Guide

User Guide 2 TecQuipment Ltd

AE1005 Wind Turbine Dynamics
Description
Figure 2 AE1005V Layout
The AE1005V consists of a turbine mounted inside of a wind tunnel. The wind tunnel has a bell mouth
and honeycombe for flow settling at the inlet. A stowable anemometer measures the average wind speed
across the face of the turbine. The turbine can be viewed from both sides of the tunnel through a
transparent window and a sliding door with an interlock. The motorised blade pitching mechanism with
digital position feedback reduces experiment time. Attached to the base of the turbine is the yawing
mechanism and the setting handle. The silencer fitted to the rear of the tunnel reduces noise pollution,
attached to this is a mesh guard for safety.
The control box has two screens for standalone operation and a VDAS output for connecting to a PC via
USB. Controls for the operation of the product are on the top panel for
• Door open (Interlock release)
• On/ Off buttons
• Wind speed
• Turbine speed
• Turbine Pitch
• Emergency Stop
The silencer can be stowed underneath the wind tunnel for ease of storage.


VDAS® (Versatile Data Acquisition System)
Figure 3 VDAS® Experiment Window
The AE1005V (Wind Turbine Dynamics) includes integrated data acquisition hardware that allows the
unit to be directly connected to a computer via a USB cable (provided with the unit). No additional
hardware is required. TecQuipment’s VDAS® software is fully compatible and provides the following
features:
• Automatically logs data from experiments

• Automatically calculates experiment parameters
• Saves time
• Reduces errors
• Creates charts and tables of data
• Exports data for processing in other software
• Includes simulated experiments to extend experimentation beyond hardware capabilities
• Free to download from TecQuipment’s Website
A suitable computer is needed (not supplied) to use TecQuipment’s

VDAS®.
Click the thumbnail below to see the VDAS® familiarisation video, or visit the TecQuipment website.


Technical Details
Product AE1005V
Turbine Ø (mm) 300
Turbine power (W) 62
Turbine voltage 24
Speed constant 235 min-1/ V
Turbine rated current (A) 4.13
Torque constant 40.4 mNm / A
Maximum Turbine Speed (min-1) 4000
Number of blades 3
Blade pitch adjustment (°) -5 to 40
Live pitch adjustment Yes

Over speed protection Yes
Generated power Management Shunt regulated
Max turbine speed (min-1) 4000

Yaw adjustment (°) ±50
Live yaw adjustment Yes
Turbine min speed (min-1) 100
Tunnel Ø (mm) 400
Max flow rate m3 /h 6900
Wind speed m / s 1-15

Fan power (kW) 1.5
Dimensions 1513 mm (height), 1700 (width), 800
mm (depth), 195 kg (weight)
Table 1 Technical Details
Product: AE1005V
Operating Conditions
Storage Temperature Range -25°C to +55°C (when packaged for

transport)
-15 to +55°C for batteries
Safe Operating Temperature Range +5 C to +40 C
Safe Operating relative Humidity range 30% to 95% (non-condensing)
Operating Environment Laboratory/Dry Outside Environment

Sound Levels
The maximum sound levels measured for this apparatus are:
Product: AE1005V
Position of Recording Level recording dB(A) at Leq Period = 2 Minutes
At operators ear level 75
In front of the apparatus 1 m away at a height of 1.6 m 75
Back of machine 1 m away at a height of 1.6m 75
Left-hand side of machine 1 m away at a height of 1.6 m 81
Right-hand side of machine 1 m away at a height of 1.6 m 84
Localised areas of excess noise (i.e. air exhausts etc.) 84
For sound pressure levels above 85 dB(A) it is

recommended that ear defenders are worn.
Figure 4 Noise Levels

Installation and Assembly

The terms left, right, front and rear of the apparatus refer to the operators’ position, facing the unit.
Follow any regulations that affect the installation, operation and maintenance
of this apparatus in the country where it is to be used.
Safety
Forseen Use of the Apparatus
The AE1005V provides a means to study the performance of wind turbine blades at varying wind speed,
min-1, Pitch angles and Yaw angles. It is intended to be used in a classroom type environment as a tool
to aid teaching how wind energy can be converted into electrical.
It is the responsibility of the end user to determine that their custom blades
are capable of withstanding the loads on them when in use. The wire mesh
after the working section and the polycarbonate guard windows are in place
to protect the user should a printed blade fail.
Handling Instructions
Obey the local handling procedures when moving this apparatus.

Use assistance when moving this apparatus.
Only move the AE1005V with the Silencer in its stowed position beneath the
tunnel.
Only lift AE1005V by the frame members never by the tunnel (Figure 5).
Figure 5 Safe Lifting Points

Location
Install the AE1005V in a clean, well lit laboratory or classroom type area, on a solid level floor, preferably
concrete.
Ensure that there is enough space at the inlet and outlet ends of the wind
tunnel to set up a safety no go zone. See Safety on page 13
The AE1005V creates high noise levels, install it in a place where it will not
disturb others. See Sound Levels on page 8.
Assembly
The apparatus is dispatched in 2 main pieces:
• The main frame
• The silencer
The silencer is stored in the stowed position (beneath the wind tunnel)
when not in use. The silencer MUST be fitted before use.
Assembling the apparatus requires at least 2 people (Figure 6).
1. Unbolt the silencer from under the main frame (Figure 6).
2. Support the fan unit and remove the 2 bolts which hold it to the end support bracket (Figure 6).
3. Hold the silencer up and make sure the holes are aligned with the fan section and through the
support bracket on the base (Figure 6).
4. Fix the silencer in place with the bolts provided (Figure 6).

Figure 6 Fitting the Silencer

Electrical Connection
Mains Electrical Supply
Connect the Control Cabinet to an electrical supply using the cable(s) provided.
Connect the apparatus to the supply through a switch, circuit breaker

or plug and socket. The apparatus must be connected to earth.
Refer to the following colour code to identify the individual conductors:
Single Phase Supply
E / Earth / Ground / Green / Yellow OR Green
L / Live / Phase / Hot Brown OR Black
N / Neutral / Cold Blue OR White
Two phase supply or split phase supply
E / Earth / Ground / Green / Yellow OR Green
L1 / Live 1 / Phase 1 / Hot 1 Brown OR Black
L2 / Live 2 / Phase 2 / Hot 2 Black OR Red

Operating Instructions
Safety
The exhaust of the wind tunnel MUST be kept clear at all times during
operation as shown in (Figure 7) as there is a small Risk of impact from
blade fragments should a blade break free.
The inlet and exhaust areas must be kept clear of people and objects
during operation due to fast moving air and areas of high noise.
Ear and Eye protection should be worn

when the apparatus is in operation.
Figure 7 Floor Plan Showing Clear Zones
It is possible to overload the turbine in the case of high wind speed conditions – built in safety features
will detect over speed or over current which will trigger an error state and shut the apparatus down to
protect the turbine.

Control Panel
The control panel is situated at the front right of the apparatus.
Figure 8 Control Panel and Displays
Opening the Door

For safety the sliding door of the wind tunnel operates on a timer to ensure that the turbine has stopped
prior to the door being opened.
1. Stop the tunnel by pressing the red Stop button “O”.
2. Wait approximately 8 seconds for the safety timer to operate.
3. Press and hold the door release button (a click should be heard when the door lock releases).
4. Slide the door open.

Measuring Wind Speed

1. Move to the inlet end of the wind tunnel, the anemometer position adjustment is directly below the
inlet (Figure 2).
2. Move the anemometer to the second notch (P2) to set an approximate speed (Figure 9).
3. Increase the tunnel speed until the desired speed is achieved.
4. Move the anemometer to the first notch and note the speed, if using VDAS® press P1.
5. Collect the results at each notch, if using VDAS® press the relative “P” number at each increment
for auto averaging.
6. Add the values together and divide by 7 (the number of positions) to give the average speed across
the turbine face. If using VDAS® this will be done automatically.
7. Once complete move the anemometer back to its home position (Figure 9).
Figure 9 Anemometer Positions

Setting the Yaw

The lever for setting the yaw is located on the bench top beneath the working section.
1. To unlock the lever, turn the handle 1/4 turn anti-clockwise.
2. Rotate the lever to the left or right to set the yaw. The yaw can be read from the bottom line of the
left hand display on the control panel.
3. Once happy with the yaw position lock the lever by turning the handle 1/4 turn anti-clockwise.
Do not force the handle, it only needs a quarter turn.
Figure 10 Setting the Yaw
AE1005V Characteristics
The turbine consists of a directly coupled EC motor used as a generator and controlled by an intelligent
drive, which maintains a demand speed set by the user. Depending on conditions, the turbine can be
either drawing power, or generating power to maintain this set speed. If the turbine is consuming power
the generated current will simply display 0.0 A.
The control monitors speed, current, and rail voltage. For safety, it will shut the wind tunnel down if any
parameters are exceeded. However, if the drive is overloaded it may alter its operating set speed to stop
saturation. For example, if demanding 1000 min-1 but producing too much torque thus exceeding the
thermal timing of the motor, the drive will increase speed to reduce torque but maintain operation.
On the contrary, if trying to run at 4000 min-1 at high pitch angles andl ow wind speed, it is possible to
consume power to move air, the output voltage will become saturated and speed will be reduced. These
are soft error states.
For safety, the blade pitching mechanism has a thrust force of 22 N and a holding force of 200 N. In some
high-speed cases, this may not be enough to pitch forward. If this is encountered, reduce the turbine
speed to <1000 min-1, set the pitch angle, increase the speed back to the desired point.

Aggressive turbine blades can lead to dampening instability of the wind turbine. If blade performance
increases too aggressively against turbine speed, the drive may try to over correct and induce a cycle of
inconsistent speed control. Try using the blades in a different operating window or reconsider the blade
design if unstable speeds are encountered.
Soft Error States
If a soft error state is encountered the apparatus will continue to run, but at
an automatically adjusted turbine speed.
Voltage Saturation
The turbine has reached its maximum possible output voltage with no wind driving it.
e.g. T Speed = 4000min-1,  = High, Uwind = Low
In this state the turbine is not generating power, it is consuming. The control will reduce and maintain
an achievable speed.
Thermal Winding Timing
The turbine is generating too much current for a sustained period.
e.g. T Speed = 2000min-1,  = High, Uwind = High
The control will increase and maintain speed to reduce current.
The user should monitor speeds to make sure their demand speed is
maintained.
Hard Error States
If a hard error is encountered, The apparatus automatically shuts down for

system protection and safety.
Turbine over speed
The turbine exceeds 4200min-1
Turbine over current
The turbine exceeds 4.13A

Shunt Regulator Thermal Limit
The shunt regulator has exceeded its thermal limit.
This error state depends on the environment the AE1005V operates. At up to 40°C the regulator can
handle 62W of continuous power but as atmospheric temperatures rise its capacity decreases. If this
error is encountered, run the turbine at lower wind speeds / power output, or move the apparatus to a
cooler environment.
Restart Instructions
Auto Shut Down Restart
1. Check the tunnel is clear and safe to restart.
2. Press the green start button on the control panel (Figure 8).
3. If the tunnel keeps shutting down due to over speed or over current, try running the tunnel at a
reduced wind velocity and re-take a set of results at this new velocity.
Detached Blade Restart

1. Press the emergency stop button.
2. Open the door and clear the inside of the tunnel of any debris.
3. Remove any parts of the blades from the turbine blade holders.
4. Inspect for any damage to the windows that could affect their safety performance. If problems are
found, contact TecQuipment for replacements. Do not use the apparatus until the damaged parts
have been replaced.
5. When initially restarting the tunnel run at 1000 min-1 before running it at high speed to ensure
everything is running correctly.

Fitting / Removing Blades

To remove and fit turbine blades to the AE1005V:
1. Stop the wind tunnel. See Control Panel on page 14.
2. Open the door by pressing the door open button and sliding the door open. See Opening the
Door on page 14.
3. Unlock the yaw handle (Figure 2) and rotate the turbine to face the user.
4. Undo the screw at the base of the blade on the turbine and remove the blades one at a time (Figure
11).
5. Fit new blade and re-fit screw with spring washer being careful to not over tighten (Figure 11).
6. Remove tools from inside the tunnel, close the door
7. Set yaw position. See Setting the Yaw on page 16.
Figure 11 Fitting or Removing a Blade

3D Printing Turbine Blades

Key factors of printing blades to use with the AE1005V
• The rotor must always be balanced
• Print blades in plastics only
• Print material must be equal to, or exceed specifications below
We recommend a SLA/ LCD or SLS process for printing turbine blade. FDM is not recommended due to
the limited structural integrity for thin thickness blades. The supplied blades are printed using a “hard
tough” resin, which is a strong non-brittle type of resin giving some flexibility. Rigid “prototyping” resin
material may be too stiff.
Tensile strength >50 MPa
Flexural strength >65 MPa
Flexural modulus >1200
Elongation at break >30%
IZOD impact strength >65 J.m
Table 2 Recommended Blade Properties
When building on the standard hub, Pitch = 0 when tabs are parallel to rotor face
AE1005V is not compatible with metal blades. The increased strength and
hardness of a metal blade could pierce the polycarbonate guard material
causing damage and possible injury.
It is the user’s responsibility to ensure that custom printed blades can

withstand the forces exerted upon them during operation.
Any blades designed by the user must fall within the (shaded) blade boundary
shown in (Figure 12).
Damage to the wind tunnel from a broken or loose blade is the user’s
responsibility.

Figure 12 Blade Boundary


Theory and Notation
Notation
Symbol Detail Units
A Area m 2
A1 Area before Rotor m2
A2 Area after Rotor m2
CD Coefficient of Drag -
CL Coefficient of Lift -
CP Coefficient of Performance -
IL Load Current A
L Lift N
m· Mass Flow kg.s-1
nT Turbine speed min-1
N Turbine Blade Count
P Power W
PR Rotor Power W
Pwind Available Wind Power W
r Local Radius m
R Rotor Radius m
S Surface area m2
U Voltage V
Uwind Wind Velocity m.s-1
v Velocity m/s
V1 Velocity before Rotor m.s-1
V2 Velocity after Rotor m.s-1
Blade Pitch Angle °


Angle of Attack (AoA) °
A
Inflow Angle °

Tip Speed Ratio (TSR)

Density kg.m-3

Stress Pa

Torque Nm

Relative Wind Angle °

Angular Velocity rad.s-1

Table 3 Notation

Wind Turbine Theory

How Wind is Created
Approximately 1-2% of solar energy is converted to wind energy through thermodynamic effects around
the world. As a region warms from solar energy so does the atmosphere within it, this causes the air to
heat and become less dense thus expanding. During this process regions out of direct sunlight cool as
the earth rotates. This consistent expansion and contraction if air causes regional changes in pressure
and subsequently air movement (wind), this form of wind is known as “Geostrophic wind”. This process
happens at higher altitudes and is minimally affected by the earth’s surface.
Due to the rotation of the earth and its spherical shape weather patterns and wind flows experience the
Coriolis Effect. This effect is what causes the consistent global wind patterns through warm air rising near
the equator and falling down towards the poles as it cools, the northern hemisphere deflects to the east
and the southern hemisphere deflects to the west. This is the reason why storms in the north rotate
counter clockwise and in the south clockwise.
Load Conditions
Wind Power Density (WPD) is the quantifiable unit of measurement for available energy per square
meter of swept turbine area, this is measured at incremental heights from ground level. Wind velocity
increases with height from the ground because less obstructions allow a freer flow, including the velocity
increase moving away from the surface boundary layer. A turbine must have mechanisms to react to the
local changes in speed and direction of the wind. Extensive research is carried out to monitor conditions
at a site to be sure that the location is suitable, including the peak wind and storm conditions that the
turbines structure must be able withstand.
Types of Wind Turbine

Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWT)
Currently the most common type of commercially available wind turbine dating back to the 1600’s when
used for mechanically grinding wheat. The turbine face is horizontally normal to the wind and feature
blades extending out from the drive shaft, this creates a surface for the wind to interact with (Figure 13).
The blades are mounted to a supporting structure which moves the turbine away from the ground into
higher wind velocities and increased ground clearance for blades, but with this comes the drawback of
supporting a mass high above the ground. The blades are fixed at a single pivot point which means pitch
control is mechanically simple to implement which can be used to control speed aerodynamically.
Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT)

The VAWT has a shaft vertically normal to the wind with the generator mounted on the ground (Figure
13). The vertical shaft of the turbine is perpendicular to the wind direction, this means it is not sensitive
to changes in wind direction. Maximum efficiencies of this VAWT are produced by the “Darrieus Rotor”
type at around 40% in comparison to a 50% efficiency of a modern HAWT. Due to the configuration of
the blades it’s hard to introduce aerodynamic control so speed sensitivity can be an issue. During over
speed conditions a heavy braking mechanism is required and produces a lot of heat, it is harder to
maintain a consistent speed for power generation.

Figure 13 Horizontal and Vertical Axis Wind Turbines
Lift and Drag Mechanisms

A drag rotor works by exposing asymmetrical sides of the rotor to the wind with one side having a lower
drag coefficient than the other on the opposing side of the shaft. This causes a torque on the shaft. The
maximum theoretical efficiency for this type of turbine is only 17.7% because it’s impossible for the rotor
to spin faster than the wind driving it (Figure 14).
Figure 14 Cup Anemometer 2D View
A lift rotor works by creating a positive pressure on the leading side of a profile and a negative pressure
on the trailing, this profile is attached to a hub which produces a torque on the connected shaft. The same
could be said for the drag rotor, however, the pressure differential doesn’t happen across the turbine face
but rather the individual profiles. Blade speed can exceed that of the wind because the produced torque
is a component of pressure difference either side of the profile, speed is only theoretically limited by the
profile used. The maximum theoretical efficiency of this rotor type is 59.3%, this is the Betz limit.
See Betz Limit on page 31.

Coefficient of Lift CL
It is obvious that a larger turbine blade will give more actual or basic lift than a smaller turbine blade of
the same design, so to compare turbine blades of different size, the different scales must be allowed for.
Engineers do this by using a non-dimensional value termed the lift coefficient CL.
L
C L = ---------------- (1)
1 2
--- V S
2
Lift / Drag Ratio and Incidence Angle

The most efficient incidence angle for an aerofoil is where the lift / drag ratio (CL/CD) is highest. This is
the point at which turbine designers choose to use an aerofoil.
The lift / drag ratio is calculated from:
C
Lift / Drag Ratio = ------L- (2)
CD
Pitching
As the incidence angle of an aerofoil changes (Figure 15), it changes the pressure distribution around
the aerofoil, giving a change in pitching moment.
Figure 15 Pressure Distribution Characteristics of an Aerofoil
Immediately before the stall, the pressure distribution around an aerofoil is low pressure over the upper
surface and higher pressure under the lower surface. When an aerofoil begins to stall, flow separation
over the upper surface reduces the suction peak near the front.

In Depth Breakdown of HAWT
Figure 16 Horizontal Wind Turbine Parts
Please refer to Figure 16 in conjunction with the descriptions below.
Tower
The tower is a structural member that holds the nacelle and the mechanics of the wind turbine in place.
As Wind Power Density increases with height the higher up the wind turbine can be the more power it is
able to harvest, although a major contributing factor to height restrictions is material limitations.
Moreover, a taller wind turbine has the capacity to rotate larger blades which increases area and velocity
in the below equation for wind power.
1 3
P WIND = ---  A v (3)
2
Low Speed Shaft

In large commercial applications the turbine rotor will only reach around 45 min-1, this isn’t fast enough
to power the generator directly so the power must be transferred to a gearbox to step up the rotational
speed.
Gearbox and Brake

Increasing the shaft speed from around 45 min-1 to 1500 to1800 min-1 on conventional wind turbines, a
gearbox is essential for converting the torque from the rotor into useable power for the generator. The
brake is used in emergencies and at very low speeds to bring the turbine to a halt. Under normal
conditions, feathering is used to slow down the turbine through pitch variation. Some large-scale turbines
are direct drive which don’t require a gearbox, this is beneficial as the gearbox is heavy and expensive

to maintain. The AE1005V is an example of a direct drive turbine, it can do this because of its small size
and therefore an increased min-1 for a given tip speed in comparison to a larger turbine.
High Speed Shaft

The high-speed shaft connects the gearbox to the generator turning at between 1500 -1800 min-1
depending on generating frequency in some applications.
Generator
The generator converts the mechanical shaft energy into electrical energy by turning a magnetic field
using a rotor.
Weather Station
The weather station measures the local conditions, this data of wind speed, wind direction and
temperature feeds into the control unit. This is located behind the rotor, so the influence of the turbine
on the anemometer must be accounted for.
Control Unit
The control unit is the computer of the turbine which processes the local conditions and changes
parameters to ensure the turbine is always running optimally, the control unit keeps the operation of the
wind turbine safe by acting on cut-in and cut-out speeds and controls yaw angle and turbine speeds. In
wind farms, individual turbines will configure for the maximum yield for the entire farm not per individual
turbine, this may require some turbines to be less efficient to produce better downstream conditions for
their counterparts.
Yawing mechanism
The yaw angle is the difference between the wind direction and the turbine axis, as the rotor plane is
perpendicular to this axis it acts as a means of CP control. A HAWT must be normal to the wind direction
to harvest the most power, if not the exposed area drops, this reduces yield. In some smaller applications
the yaw angle is used to set the CP, but for larger MW cases this is controlled by variation of the pitch
angle to adjust lift and therefore torque on the rotor.
A HAWT can have either an active or passive yaw system. Unlike the AE1005V turbine, a real world
turbine will rotate the nacelle around the tower and the tower will remain stationary as a solid platform to
orientate around.
Passive yaw systems are generally used in smaller scale applications, these use a fixed fin at the rear
creating a moment on the nacelle chassis (Figure 17). This moment applies a torque to the rotating
mechanism as the drag on the fin increases acting as a passive self-alignment system. The torque
produced by the fin must be enough to overcome the gyroscopic effect that the rotor has on the system,
this is why this method is not practical for larger turbines as the fin would be excessively large, expensive
and unsightly to work in the MW scale.
Other passive systems use a downwind rotor, in which the direction of wind flows over the yaw pivot point
(tower centreline) first and then onto the rotor (Figure 17). This method results in all blades applying their
thrust force away from the tower, producing a self-aligning yawing moment.

Figure 17 Upwind and Downwind Rotors
Active yaw systems in larger applications utilise a main ring gear and motors to turn against the gear,
these motors can be hydraulic or electric, with both types turning on a roller bearing. These systems
have brakes to hold the position once manoeuvred, this stops backlash in the system causing disruption
to the tower under loading. These active systems are controlled by the on board control unit using data
from the weather station for wind direction.
Nose cone
The nose cone is in place to protect the hub of the turbine and to channel wind away. Trial advancements
in nose cone technology increases the diameter of the cone beyond the root of the blade, this directs
flow to a more aero affective region of the blade and increases yield.
Blade Pitching Mechanism

This is situated at the root of the blade and acts similar to the yawing mechanism by means of rotating
the blade to control  and ultimately the CP. Each blade is controlled by individual but synchronised
actuation via the control system to uniformly and accurately turn the blades. A slip ring allows the
mechanism to remain connected whilst turning with the rotor.
Nacelle
The nacelle is in place to protect the inside of the turbine from the outside environment. It is also used
to condition flow over itself to have minimal detrimental effect to the CP.
Turbine Blade
The turbine blade acts as a moment arm and applies a torque on the rotor hub when loaded by the wind.
This component is critical for the harvesting process and consists of multiple aerofoil profiles with the
aim of reducing drag and losses and increasing lift force to produce more torque on the hub, all whilst
remaining within the stress constraints of the material used.

Flapwise Pre-bending
Introducing flapwise pre-bending to the blade results in the blade profile being straight when under
nominal loads, on the contrary if this pre-bending is not built into the blade structure the clearance
between the blade tip and tower is reduced. The resultant increase in clearance means less material can
be used which will increase flexibility utilising the additional clearance and reducing manufacturing costs
(Figure 18).
Figure 18 Tubine Blades Shown Without (a) and With (b) Pre-bending
Winglets
Used in the same sense as in aviation, winglets can reduce tip losses and drag on the blade by
introducing a managed transition from the high and low-pressure sides of the aerofoil. A reduction in
trailing vortexes from winglets results in less drag and higher performance. “Winglets” does not
necessarily mean a planar change to the blade at the tip (blended winglet), this can also come in the
form of a reduction of chord length at the tip rather than an abrupt ending (sharp-raked winglet). Sharp-
raked winglets are more common in wind turbines because of manufacturing costs, although blended
types are used in some less common commercial applications (Figure 19).
Figure 19 Example Blade Tips (Winglets)

Blade Theory
Betz Limit
The Betz limit (59.3%) represents the maximum theoretical efficiency a turbine can achieve. To be 100%
efficient a turbine would extract all energy from the wind producing stagnation past the turbine, this
stagnation gives the incoming flow nowhere to go – this is why efficiencies beyond the Betz limit are
unachievable. The Bets limit is derived from the conservation of mass theory, momentum through an
actuator disk and Bernoulli’s equation, accounting only for axial motion.
m· = A 1 v 1 = Sv = A 2 v 2 (4)
Figure 20 Actuator Disk Model Representing Flow Through an HAWT
The mass flow through the rotor:
 v1 + v2 
m = A --------------------- (5)
2
Where the power extracted is equal to the mass multiplied by the drop in speed:
1 2 2
P R = --- m  v 1 – v 2 
2
Substituting in m:
 2 2
P R = ---  v 1 – v 2   v 1 + v 2 A (6)
4
Available wind power defined as:
 3
P wind = --- v 1 A (7)
2

P 1 v2 v2
C p = -------------- = ---  1 –  -----   1 +  -----  (8)
P wind 2   v1     v 1 
Plotting this curve, we get:
Figure 21 Betz Limit Curve
A maximum CP of 0.593 at v1 / v2 = 0.333, therefore we should aim to consume 33.3% wind velocity to
reach maximum performance.
Blade Geometry Design

Select suitable aerofoils based from structural and performance requirements considering an optimal
TSR.
1. Profile determination.
2. Find the Angle of Attack where CL / CD is at its maximum.
3. Calculate the inflow angle considering operating speed.
4. Calculate chord length and twist (a component of inflow angle under angular velocity).
5. Linearisation for chord and twist for ease of manufacturing in commercial applications. This process
strays from ideal theory and takes into account manufacturing constraints. This means a blade won’t
be absolutely ideal, it may lose a percentage of performance but it will be many times cheaper to
manufacture.
Profile determination
For optimal performance we must find an aerofoil profile with a high CL / CD. A single turbine blade for
large applications will consist of more than 1 profile along its length, this is due to structural and aero

demands at different positions (Figure 22). Consider a turbine blade sliced down its length at 5 equally
distant cross-sections (Figure 23), the structural demand at the base will be very different to near the tip
as the blade will act as a cantilever beam with the highest stresses being at the root. This higher stress
means a blade profile that has a high CL / CD ratio would naturally not be an ideal shape to take the load,
therefore within this region a section that would produce little / no lift must be used to support the
structure of the blade. However, at the tip where there is no structural load, the profile can be entirely
aero orientated producing the most lift.
Figure 22 Balance Between Performance and Loading in a Turbine Blade
Figure 23 Blade Cross Sections Along the Length

In the case of the small scale AE1005V turbine, these structural demands can be ignored. The NACA
6409 profile is selected due to its high CL / CD.
Figure 24 NACA 6409 CL / CD Against Alpha
This graph shows the effect of the angle of the profile, which will translate to pitch, against CL / CD. The
profile holds a good high lift ratio over a wide 5° range, peaking at around 8°.
Figure 25 NACA 6409 CL Against Alpha

Tip Speed Ratio (TSR)

Tip speed ratio (TSR) is the relationship between the oncoming wind speed and the tip speed of the
turbine blade. Defined as:
Blade Tip Speed

 = ---------------------------------------
U wind
R
 = --------------- (9)
U wind
The TSR is critical when calculating dimensions for blade design, rotor solidity is defined using this value.
If the blade chord is too short or the rotor spins too slowly wind will pass freely through the gaps, the
opposite also applies that if the blades chord length is too long or the rotor spins too quickly the turbine
will act like a solid disk and block the flow.
Each turbine design has an optimal TSR. Low values 0-2 must be avoided because of higher wake
rotation losses, higher values should also be avoided because of the drawbacks from increased stress,
erosion and noise pollution.
Figure 26 Rotor Power Coefficient Against Tip Speed
Aero Profile and A
The blade should be divided into sections along its length, assessment at each division should be made
to determine structural requirements against maximum aero performance. In the case of the AE1005V
turbine and its small scale, structural requirements are minimal so maximum aero performance can be
focused on for its entire length.
Observe aerofoil performance curves for the chosen profiles to find maximum lift to determine the angle
of attack (Figures 24 and 25).

Angle of attack
This represents the angle between the relative wind direction and the angle of the blade, this can
be shown as:
A =  –  (10)
Figure 27 Angle Between Relative wind Direction and Angle of the blade

Inflow Angle Calculation
1. Inflow angle calculation at each division along the blade
Inflow angle is a resultant of blade angular velocity and wind speed, this means the blade’s angle
will be closer to parallel to the plane of the rotor rather than to the wind direction.
–1 1
 = tan  --- (11)
 
– 1 2R
 = tan  --------- (12)
 3r
where:
 2V
-------
 3 2R
tan    = ------------ V = --------
-
r
 --- 3r
 R
This 2/3 accounts for the wind through the rotor which is determined by Betz limit at 1/3rd extraction.
Figure 28 Blade Set at Optimal A

(Figure 28) shows the base of the blade set at its optimal A.  decreases when moving away from
the centre of the rotor axis. The rotor axis is considered to be 90°, with the rotor plane at 0°.
2. Chord Length Calculation
8r sin   
Chord r = ---------  ---------------- (13)
Nc L  3r 
Chord length is a determining property to blade solidity used to determine rotor performance
Blade Area
Blade Solidity = --------------------------- (14)
Rotor Area
3. Twist Angle
The twist down the blade keeps the angle of attack near constant to the relative wind direction. As
seen in most rotary blades for various applications a blade will twist as relative velocity increases
down its length, the highest velocity is at the tip. Large turbines that push the limits of material
science with the size of their blades must be careful with a uniform blade twist as this can cause the
entire blade to stall and reattach at the same time producing high loads on the structure of the blade
and turbine components. Therefore, a twist angle that drifts slightly from theory should be used so
the blade stalls progressively along its length for large applications.
Twist Angle =  –  A (15)
Linearisation is applied to the chord and twist to help with large scale manufacturing and material
savings, this inevitably has a poor impact on performance when compared to optimal calculated
parameters. In the case of the AE1005V, its small scale and printed blades, material saving and
manufacturing difficulty is not an issue.
Losses
Rotor Power and Losses
The wind velocity after the rotor is used to calculate the rotor power, this is defined as:
 2 2
P R = --- A  V 1 + V 2   V 1 – V 2 
4
We can substitute the difference in energy with the turbines Coefficient of Performance, which can vary
between turbines. Accurate calculation of Coefficient of Performance is a complex task that is generally
simulated, this can be found by way of experiment.
 2 3
P R = --- R V 1 C p (16)
2
Key Aero Losses

Each method of calculating losses has more than one widely accepted solution, for example an
advanced look into tip losses could utilise Betz, Prandtl or Goldsteins methods. Simplicity leads to the
method used below

Wake Rotation
The idealised wind turbine defined by Betz doesn’t take into account key losses such as wake rotation
and tip losses. As the wind exerts a torque on the blades the blades apply a reactional torque to the wind
which results in a tangential rotation in the wake region, this is lost energy from the extraction process.
This type of loss can be reduced by decreasing torque on the blades, therefore, spinning them faster
and increasing .
The Schmitz Power Coefficient accounts for this loss when the same aerofoil profile is used for the entire
length of the blade (Figure 29):
Figure 29 Schmitz Power Coefficient against TSR 
Tip Loss
1
Tip Losses = ------------ (17)
n
These simple methods are sensitive to input data but can work out starting figures, however, the process
of correctly calculating turbine power and blade parameters is complex and iterative. This is done via
simulation packages and optimised by algorithms.
Secondary Losses
Friction
For simplicity the mechanical friction losses can be assumed to be 0.
Electrical Resistance
This is included in the calculation for turbine voltage,
n T 0.573
U = --------
- – -------------
236 IL
236 = Generator constant min-1 / Volt
0.573 = Generator constant terminal resistance

Number of Blades
Many factors form the reason why most commercial wind turbines use 3 blades, ranging from cost,
material science to simply aesthetics.

P = --------------------------- (18)
9.549 RPM
Power is directly related to rotational speed and torque. If we reduce the number of blades from 3 to 2
then torque will be 2/3 of the original output, therefore speed must be increased to generate the same
power, with this speed increase comes higher loads and higher noise pollution levels.
Therefore increasing the number of blades from 3 to 4 will increase the cost of the turbine, and when
comparing this initial investment increase, the returns on additional blades is diminishing.
Higher blade counts have lower cut in speed which makes them able to generate power over a larger
range of wind speed. However, during nominal operation there are diminishing returns on efficiency
when increasing blade count.
Considering the Betz limit ceiling of 59.3%:
Blade Quantity Efficiency
1 43%
2 47%
3 50%
Table 4 Diminishing Returns of Additional Blades
(Table 4) shows the diminishing returns of additional blades. It is an insight into break even points in
relation to return on investment.
Gyroscopic Precession of Two Blades

Diametrically opposing blade setups, which includes a single blade and counterbalance, cause
increased stress on the yawing mechanism due to the increased diameter when measured tip to tip. As
the nacelle turns the increased gyroscopic precession introduces cyclic loading to the yawing
mechanism. A 3 bladed design is balanced in this.
Cyclic Stress
Furthering the disadvantages of diametrically opposing blades, the velocity field they are driven by has
higher flow at the top in comparison to the bottom due to earth’s boundary layer and possible nearby low
obstructions. This means the delta load across the diameter of the rotor peaks when one blade is in the
tower shadow and close to the ground and the other blade is in the height of the velocity field. This
increased cyclic load puts stress and wear on the hub bearing assembly.

Figure 30 Wind Turbine Velocity Field
(Figure 30) Depicts a wind turbine velocity field showing higher (darker) wind speed when moving away
from the ground and the tower shadow caused by blockage from the structure of the turbine.
Aesthetics (subjective)
Aesthetics is a subjective matter, however, surveys have suggested that 3 bladed designs appear
“smoother in rotation” and faster 2 bladed designs have “an apparent jerky motion”.
Effects of Speed
Mechanical Stress
As blade count decreases speed must increase for a given rotor diameter, this increase in speed results
in higher mechanical stress on the blade.
2
 =  (19)
Centrifugal stress increases as a square of rotational velocity.
Erosion
Impact energy from airborn pollutants, rain and dust is increased with higher rotational speed which
increases erosion rate of the leading edge of the blade. Bad cases of erosion can cause a 25% reduction
of Annual Energy Production per turbine, 3-5% for more mild cases. The problem can be solved through
shutting the turbine down for maintenance work but this was an additional, sometimes unaccounted for
cost in early wind turbines when this issue was overlooked.
Noise Pollution
The relationship between tip speed and noise pollution is to the 5th power, therefore, small increases in
blade speed has a big impact on noise pollution. Something that must be considered if the installation
site is near a residential area.
Turbines are installed on a case-by-case basis, as two locations are not the same a great deal of pre-
assessment work must be carried out, this pre-assessment will not arrive at a one-turbine suits all
solution.

AE1005V Blade Characteristics
Blade Set 1 Blade Set 2

Aerofoil NACA 0009 NACA 6409
Designed TSR 4.7 4.7
Optimal A 5 7
Optimised Chord No Yes
Twist No Yes
Table 5 Supplied Blade Characteristics
Blade set 1 is built to the same chord length as blade set 2, regardless of it having a different CL. This
in part with the lack of twist and poor CL / CD makes it a tool for comparative data of a “non-optimised”
blade, which looks similar to blade 2 but will produce very different results.
Rotor Positioning
The effect of rotor position relative to wind angle is defined as yaw. Increasing yaw angle reduces the
effective exposed rotor to the flow and therefore reduces yield. This decrease in power can be calculated
via the Pwind equation with the addition of the angle component multiplied by area. The area of the 0.3m
diameter rotor is 0.07069 m2.
 3
P wind = --- v 1 A cos    (20)
2

Experiments
Using VDAS®
• See the VDAS® User Guide for details on installation and start up.
• There is comprehensive online help within VDAS® accessed by pressing F1 at any time. There is
also a VDAS familiarisation video available on our website or by clicking the thumbnail below:
Figure 31 AE1005V Screenshot
1. Start the VDAS® software on the computer (not supplied). See the VDAS® User Guide for details on
installation and start up of the software.
2. If using VDAS®, switch on the system, select: Options > Select VDAS Application > AE1005 Wind
Turbine Dynamics > OK.

Experiment 1 - Testing TSR Against Varying Pitch

Aim
An investigation to see how varying pitch angles at set wind speed influences CP. Turbine speed is also
varied to find the blade’s maximum CP and optimal running conditions.
Procedure
1. If not using VDAS® create a table similar to Table 6 on page 45 for each pitch (8 Tables).
2. Fit the blade set 1 (NACA 0009)to the turbine. See Fitting / Removing Blades on page 19.
3. Close the door.
4. Set the pitch to 0° by turning the knob on the control panel (Figure 8).
5. Set yaw to 0°. See Setting the Yaw on page 16.
6. Move the anemometer to position P2. See Measuring Wind Speed on page 15.
7. Turn the turbine speed dial anti-clockwise all the way down (Figure 8).
8. Press the start button and increase the fan speed to approximately 10 m.sec-1 as shown in the left
hand display (Figure 8).
9. Set the turbine speed to 1500 min-1.
10. Move the anemometer to position P1 and take an average of the wind speed. See Measuring Wind
Speed on page 15.
11. Reduce the turbine speed to 250 min-1 and record a data row (F4 if using VDAS®) or note in the
table using the readings from the control panel display.
12. Increase the turbine speed by 250 min-1 in increments up to 4000 min-1 max speed.
13. Record a result row by pressing F4 in VDAS® or by filling a row of the table.
14. Reduce the turbine speed to 250 min-1.
15. Increase the pitch angle by 5°.
16. Repeat steps 12-15 until pitch = 40°.
This will give a set of results at 8 different pitch angles and 16 speeds per pitch.
Results that read 0W of power can be ignored as the turbine is not generating
electricity to maintain these speed.

Pitch (°) Air densith (kg.m3)
Yaw (°) Fan Speed (Hz)
Wind Speed Av.

(m.s-1)
Turbine Data
T Speed (min-1) T Current (A) T Power (W) CP
Table 6 Sample Results Table
Results Analysis
• Chart speed against power for blade 1.
• Discuss the results

Experiment 2 - Collecting Comparative Data

Aim
To gain a comparative set of data for further analysis of blade design with reference to the differences
shown in Table 5 on page 42.
Procedure
2. Fit the blade set 2 (NACA 6409) to the turbine. See Fitting / Removing Blades on page 19.
3. Close the door.
4. Set the pitch to 0° by turning the knob on the control panel (Figure 8).
7. Turn the turbine speed dial anti-clockwise all the way down (Figure 8).
9. Set the turbine speed to 1500 min-1 .
Speed on page 15.
15. Increase the pitch angle by 5°.
16. Repeat steps 12-15 until pitch = 40°.
Results Analysis
• Chart speed against power for blade set 2. Compare with the chart from experiment 1
• Create a chart comparing blade set 1 with blade set 2 and the Betz Limit
• Discuss these results

Experiment 3 - The Effect of Wind Speed on Power

Aim
An investigation into understanding the effect of wind speed on harvested power.
Procedure
2. Fit the either blade set to the turbine. See Fitting / Removing Blades on page 19.
3. Close the door.
4. Set the optimal pitch (Figure 8) as found in experiment 1.
7. Set the wind speed to approximately 5 m.s-1 (Figure 8).
8. Set the turbine speed to 1500 min-1 (Figure 8).
10. Set the turbine speed to 1500 min-1 .
Speed on page 15.
16. Return to step 7 and increase the wind speed by 1 m.s-1.
17. Repeat steps 7-16 until wind speed of 11 m.s-1.
Results Analysis
• Create a chart of speed against power
• Discuss these results

Experiment 4 - Effect of Yaw Angle on CP

Aim
An investigation into the effect of yaw angle on the CP of the turbine starting at optimal conditions.
Procedure
2. Fit the either blade set to the turbine. See Fitting / Removing Blades on page 19.
3. Close the door.
4. Set the optimal pitch (Figure 8) as found in experiment 1.
7. Set the wind speed to approximately 10 m.s-1 (Figure 8).
8. Set the turbine speed to 3000 min-1 (Figure 8).
Speed on page 15.
11. Increase yaw angle by 10° and repeat steps 6 to 10 up to a yaw angle of 50°.
Pitch (°) Air Density (kg.m3)

Wind speed Av
(m.s-1) Fan speed (Hz)
Turbine Data
T Speed (min-1) T Current (A) T Power (W) CP Yaw (°)
Table 7 Blank Results Table for Experiment 4
Results Analysip
• Create a chart of yaw angle against Power
• Discuss the results

Results
Results are examples only, manufacturing tolerances and continuous

improvements can cause some differences.
Results: Experiment 1 - Testing TSR Against Varying Pitch
Figure 32 Blade Set 1 (NACA 0009)
These results show a max power output of 16W at  = 5° but poor lower speed performance at the same
angle and no power below 1000 min-1. Each pitch increase after 5° results in a loss of top end power in
comparison to its previous result but offers higher performance at lower speed. There is a clear peak to
each result preceding a fall in power.

Results: Experiment 2 - Collecting Comparative Data
Figure 33 Blade Set 2 (NACA 6409)
These results show a similar trend to Experiment 1 blade set 1 results with a fall in power at the peak,
however, the profile is very different. These results show a max power output of 22W at  = 5° which
agrees with the aerofoil profile data. This power is generated at 3000 min-1 which equals a TSR of 4.7,
identical to the design parameter of the blade.
Figure 34 Comparison Blade Set 1 against Blade Set 2

Set 1 NACA 0009 at 5°, peak CP of 32% at 3500 min-1
Set 2 NACA 6409 at 5°, peak CP of 48% at 3000 min-1
This shows how small changes to the blades can make a huge impact on efficiency and operating
window for the same amount of available wind energy. However, this is all relative to the conditions the
blade will be exposed to as the NACA 0009 profile results show greater potential to operate at higher
wind speeds. This traces back to the cut in- cut out points of turbines as the 0009 profile would cut out
much later than the 6409, meaning it would be more suited to environments with higher Wind Power
Density before overcoming the torque limit of the generator and therefore requiring feathering and
shutting down. This highlights the importance of site surveying and utilising the correct turbine class for
optimal yield in local conditions.

Results: Experiment 3 - The Effect of Wind Speed on Power
Figure 35 Wind Power
These results show a clear increase in power output with high wind velocity and therefore more
potential energy to harvest. Each increase in velocity shows a growing area under the curve in
comparison with the previous result, this coincides with the wind power equation (Equation 7)
component v3 . When intersecting the highest output from each series we produce a curve very similar
to the Pwind Equation.

Results: Experiment 4 - Effect of Yaw Angle on CP
Pitch (°) 5 Air Density (kg.m3) 1.225

Wind speed Av (m.s- 10.5 33.5
1) Fan speed (Hz)
Turbine Data
T Speed (min-1) T Current (A) T Power (W) CP Yaw (°)
3000 2.16 24.8 0.490 0
3000 2.07 23.8 0.470 10
3000 1.83 21.4 0.423 20
3000 1.56 18.5 0.366 30
3000 1.21 14.6 0.288 40
3000 0.76 9.4 0.186 50
Table 8 Example Results
Figure 36 Yaw Angle
These results show a drop in performance when increasing the yaw angle, showing how it could be used
by way of CP control. The measured drop in power coincides with Equation 20.


Care and Maintenance
General
Disconnect the Control Cabinet from the mains supply after use.
Store all parts of the AE1005V apparatus in a dust free, clean, dry area under a suitable cover.
Occasionally use a damp cloth to clean the Solarimeter cover, the Photovoltaic Array covers and any
painted surfaces.
Never use abrasive or strong cleaning agents on the apparatus, it may

damage the surfaces and will affect the experiments.
Electrical
A qualified person must carry out electrical maintenance.

Ensure the following procedures are followed.
• Assume the apparatus is energised until it is known to be isolated from the electrical supply.
• Use insulated tools where there are possible electrical hazards.
• Confirm that the apparatus earth circuit is complete.
• Identify the cause of a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker before renewing or resetting.
Renew faulty or damaged parts with an equivalent item of the same type or
rating.

Anemometer Rail System

If the anemometer wind speed measurement handle becomes stiff, the rail system must be greased
using the supplied multipurpose grease (NOT silicone grease).
1. To do this remove the service panel (Figure 37).
2. Undo the 6 screws using an allen key.
3. Apply a small amount of multipurpose grease to both rails and move the anemometer across
multiple times to distribute (Figure 37).
4. Refit the service cover panel.
Figure 37 Grease Anemometer Rails
Sliding Door
The rails of the sliding door do not need lubricating as it utilises a dry rail system. The seals however
may require a small smear of silicone grease so the door slides over them easily to lock into place. If the
sliding door system drags on the rubber seals, smear a small amount of silicone grease on the rubber
with the door open and wipe off any excess with a dry cloth.
Windows
The windows are an impact protective polycarbonate material, when cleaning use a soft cloth to avoid
swirl marks. In the event of a blade off causing damage to the window, contact TecQuipment to arrange
a replacement.
Do not operate the apparatus with structurally damaged windows.

Spare Parts and Customer Care
Spare Parts
Refer to the Packing Contents List for any spare parts supplied with the apparatus.
If technical assistance or spares are required, please contact the local TecQuipment agent, or contact
TecQuipment direct.
To assist us in processing the request quickly and efficiently, when requesting spares please include the
following:
• Contact name
• The full name and address of the college, company or institution
• Contact email address
• The TecQuipment product name and product reference
• The TecQuipment part number (if known)
• The serial number
• The year of purchase (if known)
Please provide us with as much detail as possible about the parts required and check the details carefully
before contacting us.
If the product is no longer under warranty, TecQuipment will advise a price quotation for confirmation.
Customer Care
We hope our products and manuals ar satisfactory. If there are any questions, please contact our
Customer Care department immediately.
Contact Details
Tel: +44 115 954 0155
Fax: +44 115 973 1520
Email: customercare@tecquipment.com
For information about all TecQuipment products visit:
www.tecquipment.com


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AE1005V

Wind Turbine Dynamics

© TecQuipment Ltd 2021, Original Instructions

Do not reproduce or transmit this document in any form or by any

TecQuipment has taken care to make the contents of this

TecQuipment supplies a Packing Contents List (PCL) with the

VDAS® (Versatile Data Acquisition System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Technical Details ............................................................ 7

Installation and Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Theory and Notation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

TecQuipment Ltd User Guide

Care and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Spare Parts and Customer Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Figure 1 AE1005V Wind Turbine Dynamics

This Product has VDAS® Onboard

TecQuipment Ltd 1 User Guide

User Guide 2 TecQuipment Ltd

Figure 2 AE1005V Layout

• Door open (Interlock release)

• On/ Off buttons

TecQuipment Ltd 3 User Guide

User Guide 4 TecQuipment Ltd

VDAS® (Versatile Data Acquisition System)

Figure 3 VDAS® Experiment Window

• Automatically logs data from experiments

A suitable computer is needed (not supplied) to use TecQuipment’s

TecQuipment Ltd 5 User Guide

User Guide 6 TecQuipment Ltd

Live pitch adjustment Yes

Generated power Management Shunt regulated

Max turbine speed (min-1) 4000

Wind speed m / s 1-15

Table 1 Technical Details

Storage Temperature Range -25°C to +55°C (when packaged for

Safe Operating Temperature Range +5 C to +40 C

Safe Operating relative Humidity range 30% to 95% (non-condensing)

Operating Environment Laboratory/Dry Outside Environment

TecQuipment Ltd 7 User Guide

For sound pressure levels above 85 dB(A) it is

Figure 4 Noise Levels

User Guide 8 TecQuipment Ltd

Installation and Assembly

Obey the local handling procedures when moving this apparatus.

Figure 5 Safe Lifting Points

TecQuipment Ltd 9 User Guide

• The main frame

Assembling the apparatus requires at least 2 people (Figure 6).

User Guide 10 TecQuipment Ltd

Figure 6 Fitting the Silencer

TecQuipment Ltd 11 User Guide

Connect the apparatus to the supply through a switch, circuit breaker

Refer to the following colour code to identify the individual conductors:

Single Phase Supply

E / Earth / Ground / Green / Yellow OR Green

L / Live / Phase / Hot Brown OR Black

N / Neutral / Cold Blue OR White

Two phase supply or split phase supply

E / Earth / Ground / Green / Yellow OR Green

L1 / Live 1 / Phase 1 / Hot 1 Brown OR Black

L2 / Live 2 / Phase 2 / Hot 2 Black OR Red