Renewable Energy Systems

Topic 2 The Wind Resource

Reminder
You

are welcome to use the Discussion Board on Blackboard to pose/discuss questions in all components of the course with your classmates.

Wind speeds

The output of a wind turbine is critically dependent on wind speed. Power in undisturbed wind is proportional to cube of wind speed. This can be shown with the 1st law of thermo for a control volume. Therefore 10% increase in wind speed means 33% increase in wind power. Proportion of power in the wind captured by wind turbine varies with wind speed. Typically wind turbines cut in about 5 m/s, and cut out at about 25 m/s. Turbulent wind is undesirable
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Large scale wind patterns in Australia

In southern regions (latitudes of about 30 S to 50 S), prevailing winds are westerlies Around 40 S to 50 S, strong westerlies known as the roaring forties Further north (< 30 S) south east trade winds Seasonal variation in latitude Near equator, south east trade winds from southern hemisphere meet north east tradewinds from northern hemisphere. These are the doldrums - low wind potential. Very high winds are undesirable for wind power. (In some areas, special measures taken - Exmouth, Antarctica)
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Reading
Origins

of the global wind systems affecting Australia The Winds of New South Wales, Energy Authority of NSW, 1984 Click here to access

Local effects

Coastal sea breezes are caused by temperature difference between land and sea. The hot air over land heats up and rises. It is replaced by cooler air from over the sea. Elevated ridges can cause air flow to accelerate. (In effect, cross sectional area is decreased, so air speeds up.) Obstacles such as trees and buildings decrease wind speeds and increase turbulence for a significant region around the obstacle. (Hence, cities are not good sites) Wind speed varies with height due to wind shear. Profile is dependent on local terrain.
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Finding windy sites

Wind speed regime varies significantly within small region Bureau of Meteorology wind speed records do NOT give a good indication of wind power potential. Permanent deformation of local foliage may not be a good indicator (affected by salt in coastal areas). Daily and seasonal wind speed variation. Average wind speed can vary significantly from year to year. (Affected by weather patterns such as El Nio) Wind monitoring studies done in 1980s. Findings from current wind studies generally not publicly available. Wind speed atlases now being produced. Terrain modelling packages are available.
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Finding windy sites

Monitor wind speeds at site for at least a year. Should correlate speed and direction data with long term data from nearby site (e.g. Bureau of Meteorology) to determine if typical year. Monitor at hub height - typically 50 to 60 m. (Much wind data is from 2 m or 10m height.) Select site with little disturbance from obstacles (buildings, trees) in direction of prevailing winds. Flow disturbance from obstacles typically twice the height of obstacle and downwind distance up to 20 times height of obstacle. Thus bottom of rotor should be at least twice the height of nearby obstacle
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Finding windy sites

Tops of cliffs have enhanced wind speeds. Direction of prevailing wind should be approx perpendicular to cliff face. High turbulence near edge of cliff, so locate turbine back from edge. Hills can enhance wind speed. Long ridges are preferable, to ensure wind travels over hill rather than around it. Valleys may be suitable for enhancing wind speed. Should be oriented close to direction of prevailing winds, and surrounded by hills

Variability of wind energy

Wind speed varies significantly on all timescales. Wind turbines are thus intermittent generators. (Some smoothing of output with many dispersed turbines) Electricity systems typically have no (or very little) storage, so supply and demand must always be matched. The variable output of wind turbines must therefore be matched by other generators. Wind power output usually does not correlate with times of peak demand. At significant levels of wind power penetration, effect on electricity system operation may be detrimental.

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Winds in Victoria
Victorian

wind atlas Existing wind farms in Victoria Wind projects in Victoria

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Wind Vane
It

is important to know the dominant wind direction when designing wind farms. Need to consider layout of wind turbines and location of obstacles. The direction of the wind can be monitored using a wind vane.

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Estimating wind speed using the Beaufort Scale

Beaufort number 0 1 2 3 4 Descrip tion calm light air light breeze gentle breeze moderat e breeze fresh breeze strong breeze Wind speed at 10m height m/s 00.2 0.31.5 1.63.3 3.45.4 5.57.9 Wind speed at 10m height km/h <1 15 611 1219 2028 Observable effects on land Wind Turbine performance 50m height None None None 0 to 20% of capacity 20 to 60% of capacity 60 to 100% of capacity Full capacity Calm, smoke rises vertically Smoke drift; wind vanes unaffected Wind felt on face; leaves rustle; wind vanes move Leaves and small move constantly; flags flap Papers blow; small branches move Small trees sway Large branches in motion; umbrellas used with difficulty

5 6

8.010.7 10.813.8

2938 3949

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Estimating wind speed using the Beaufort Scale

Beaufort number 7 8 Descrip tion near gale gale Wind speed at 10m height m/s 13.917.1 17.220.7 Wind speed at 10m height km/h 5061 6274 Observable effects on land Wind Turbine performance 50m height Full capacity Full capacity Whole trees sway Twigs break off; walking difficult

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10 11

strong gale
storm violent storm hurrican e

20.824.4
24.528.4 28.532.6

7588
89102 103117

Slight structural damage

Trees uprooted; much structural damage Widespread damage

Wind turbine shut down

Wind turbine shut down Wind turbine may be damaged Serious damage unless lowered

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32.7 +

118 +

Severe and extensive damage; disaster

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Wind Roses

Wind Rose represents wind speed, direction and frequency. Centre circle indicates how often it is calm 16 branches of rose represents wind coming from that direction Each segment in branch represents wind speed range. Segment length represents frequency. Circles on rose represent 5% frequency intervals.
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Wind Shear

Wind speed increases with height due to friction between air and surface of earth Wind speed gradient function:

vref

z zref

v is wind speed at height z vref is wind speed at height zref

is wind shear exponent

Exponent depends on terrain:

0.1 for open sea; 0.19 for low scrub;

0.13 for low grass; 0.32 for forest, urban areas

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Wind Shear

Another method of estimating the wind speed gradient is the log law and its physical basis is the law of the wall (Boundary Layer theory) v = m*ln(z) +c, z=zo when v=0

v ref

ln z ln z 0 ln z ref ln z 0

z0 is called the roughness length

Roughness length varies from 0.0002 m for smooth water to over a metre for cities with tall buildings. Typical value for open agricultural land is 0.03 m 17

Wind Shear

Note that the roughness length is the height at which the mean velocity is zero if the law of the wall were valid very near the surface. In reality of course the mean velocity is zero at the surface.

Note non-zero intercept for log law.

Iehisa NEZU, Akihiro TOMINAGA(2000):"Suirigaku", Asakura Shoten, pp.130-133

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