ON THE LIMITS OF THE BETZS EFFICIENCY COEFFICIENT OF WIND TURBINES

WITH THE HORIZONTALLY SHAFT

Prof.dr. ing. Petre Terzi

SOCIETATEA PENTRU PROMOVAREA ENERGIILOR REGENERABILE,

INEPUIZABILE SI NOI SPERIN

Abstract
Beginning with the flowing modeling by means of the moving components of the horizontal shaft wind
turbines applying the turbulent flow theoretical concept and considering the papers published by Betz
and Sabinin, there are new theoretical concepts presented regarding the limits of incident current
energy utilization factor on the horizontal shaft wind turbines, by considering the effect of upstream
and downstream flow velocities induced by the wind turbine rotor.
Key words: aerodynamics, wind turbine, horizontal shaft wind rotor

Rezumat
Pornindu-se de la modelarea curgerii prin] elementele rotorului de turbina eoliana cu arbore orizontal,
prin aplicarea conceptului de curgere turbulrbulenta neintubata, pe baza publicatiilor lui Betz si
Sabinin, se prezinta un nou concept teoretic privind limitele coeficientului de utilizare a energiei
vantului incident pe sectiunea activa a rotorului turbinei eoliene cu arbore orizontal cu luarea in
considerare a vitezelor induse in amonte si in aval de rotor.
Cuvinte chee: aerodinamica, turbine de vant, rotor eolian cu arbore orizontal.

1.INTRODUCTION
Following by means of the moving components of the wind turbines have been
approached in the specialized technical literature since the latter half of the past century, in
studies conducted by RANKINE [1] AND FROUDE [2], subsequently resumed by BETZ [3] and
SABINI [4] during the period in witch there was laid the basis of the aerodynamic study of general
flowing in horizontal shaft wind turbines.
The present paper, centered on the theories developed by BETZ [3] AND SABINI [4],
deals with the theoretic aspects of the study of flowing in the horizontal shaft wind rotor. Pointing
out the continuity between these theories, the paper further presents some aspects related to the
development of the turbulent flow theory as proposed by SABINI [4].
Possible solutions of the flowing equations are presented, by considering the effect of the
rotor induced upstream and downstream flow velocities, as well as the effect of the variation of
the rotor induced downstream velocities according to the horizontal shaft turbine rotor operating
regime, in order to determine the correlation of the maximum efficiency regime versus the
variation of the velocities induced behind the wind turbine.

2.ELEMENTARY THEORY OF THE HORIZONTAL SHAFT WIND TURBINES

The aerodynamic model proposed by BETZ [3] in order to study wind energy catching by means
of propeller type devices, considers the fact domain, made up by the moving air current.

NOMENCLATURE

VV0 mm/s
Far incident velocity
V mm/s
V11
incident velocity
V mm/s
V22
Avail incident velocity

u1, 2 Induced peripheral velocity in

amonte or aval section
 w [m/s Relative wind current velocity
incident on the profile
P PPa
P11
Air pressure at 1-1 section
P PPa
P22
Air pressure at 2-2 section
dFr N
Elementary bearing force
dFa N
Elementary axial force
m2 m
A 2
Propeller area
P
P kW Mechanical power

Ns 2
m4 Volumetric density

Special characters
E -
CP Betzs efficiency ( power factor)

-
Velocity factor
Aerodynamic profile finenesses

i 2
i 2 Velocity module amonte or
aval section

The aerodynamic model proposed by BETZ [3] in order to study wind energy catching by means
of propeller type devices, considers the fact domain, made up by the moving air current.
This aerodynamic model considers the total air pressure discontinuity accruing in the
upstream and downstream sections in the immediate vicinity of the rotor.
By using the concept of air current utilization factor, also called wind turbine power factor, marked
Cp then the initial power may be written as:

1
P C P b AV 03 (1.1)
2
 1

V0 P11 V11 P22 V22

Fig. 1.1 Aerodynamically model proposed by BETZ

Which means that air velocity after crossing the catching system still maintains about 33%
of the initial velocity V0?
The results a maximum values of the dimensionless power factor of Cp = 0.593.
There results, therefore that an ideal rotor with an infinite number of blades placed in
uniform current can catch at the most 60% of the incident air current energy.
The elementary theory of the wind catching system points out the following aspects: the
power of catching from an air current of incident velocity V0 is directly proportional to the rotor
incidence area A, the cubic initial velocity V0 downstream far off the section where the catching
system is located, the power factor Cp and the air braking capacity of the incident air current
energy

Also called air current braking factor,

V
a 1 m
V0
defined by Betz [4].

Vim =0,5(V1 + V2 )

Maximum values when the braking factor is

1
a
3 .
A more through analysis of the wind energy catching mechanism is to be found in the
following chapter by using the turbulent flow theoretical concept and applying the impulse theory
to the aerodynamic study of the horizontal shaft wind turbine.

3. THE IMPULSE THEORY AS APPLIED TO THE HORIZONTAL SHAFT WIND TURBINE.

The application of the impulse theory to the horizontal shaft wind turbine dimensioning has
been taken over from the airplane propeller elastic theory, which, together with the classical
whirlwind theory has led to highly efficient aerodynamic solutions.
 One of the forerunners of this calculation and dimensioning method was G. K. Sabinin [4]
who had his studies in this field published starting from 1923.
3.1Hypotheses:
The application of the impulse theory to the calculation and dimensioning of the propeller
type horizontal shaft turbines is based on the following main hypotheses: (1) the air jet crosses the
rotor at an even velocity throughout the axial cross section; (3) the rotor lets the air pass through
the blades without determining a local velocity discontinuity and has an infinite number of blades;
(3) the presence of the rotor brings about a pressure variation between upstream and
downstream, in a fluid domain delimited downstream the catching system by a cylindrical surface
on which an infinite number of whose winding is the cylindrical surface corresponding to section
A-A, fig 2.1, downstream, in its immediate vicinity; (4) the current tube delimited by the solenoid
surface does not allow for the air exchange between its inside and outside, the air current passing
through the rotor being considered isolated from the ambient; (5) the current non-uniformity
increases at the rotor outlet, which leads to turbulent energy losses and therefore to a lower
efficiency of catching the wind energy, while the current twisting dissipated in alternating
whirlpools caused by the instability of the flow downstream the rotor; (6) air pressure in the 0 0
cross-section in fig. 2.1 is assumed to be equal to the atmospheric one; (7) in cross-section 1-1,
pressure rises to values p1<p0, yet further increasing while aiming asymptotically towards values
p0 , far-off downstream; (8) in the sections downstream the wind turbine rotor, pressure variation is
neglected, considering that the centrifugal forces determined by the refined current twisting after
rotor crossing are small as compared to the forces caused by the axial impulse in the same
section; (9) the pressure difference downstream and upstream the catching system leads to the
occurrence of an axial force upon the rotor Fa; as a result of the adequately built rotor geometry
there appears a tangential component Fr in the rotation plan, leading to the occurrence of the
catching system useful moment. Obviously, wind-catching systems should be builder so that the
rotor impulse tangential component should be as big as possible.

Fig. 3.1. schematically shows the air current shape upstream and downstream the rotor according
to the above hypotheses, as well as the diagram of the modality the whirlwind solenoid surface is
formed, delimiting the current tube downstream the rotor; upstream the rotor, namely in the 0-0
section in fig. 2.1, current velocity V0 is equal to the far-off upstream velocity (infinite upstream); in
the catching system rotor section 1-1, and as getting nearer and nearer to this section, the current
axial velocity drops to values V11= V0 V2, where V1 and V2are velocities induced by the
cylindrical turbulent layer generated by the whirlwinds on top of the rotor blades forming up a
current tube.
As in the wind turbine rotor there appears a rotating moment in the section 1-1, that leads to the
occurrence of the induced rotating impulse, counterclockwise to the catching system rotation, as a
result of the whirlwinds induced by the blades having as winding the current tube cylindrical
surface as per the diagram in figure 3.1 there results therefore that downstream the rotor, the air
current rotates at a velocity equal to the velocity V2 in a close enough section, where the whirlwind
tubes do not vicinity, the current peripheral velocity is considered not very much different from
that, so that V2 ~ V2 , where V2 is the rotating velocity at the rotor outlet.

Fig 3.1 the diagram of the formation of whirlwind solenoid surface downstream the wind turbine
 3.2 Determining of the peripheral force component and of the axial force component acting
upon the catching system blade
Isolating an annular area of r radius, dr thick, off the air current, the axial component dFa
as well as the rotation peripheral component dFr (see fig. 2.3) can be determined in the
corresponding annular section in the rotor plan, fig. 3.1. These components lead to the occurrence
of the interactions in the rotor construction elements (blades).
By applying the impulse theorem and taking into account that, in keeping with second
principle of mechanics, action is equal to reaction, there can be determined the reactions
occurring in the rotor blades, along the axial and tangential directions, respectively,
Where: dFa elementary axial force, and dFr the elementary tangential force.

dm 2 r p V1 dr

Where
dm is the unitary moss air flow crossing the annular section in the rotor, fig. 3.1

V1 = V0 V1; V1 is the induced velocity before the rotor, caused by the blades
By applying to the air mass delimited by the two concentric cylindrical areas of radius r and
r + dr, as shown in figure 2.1, the Euler theorem for the motional quantity by taking into the
expression of the elementary force caused by the action of the elementary air mass enclosed
between the two cylindrical areas, upon the blades.
dFa = V2 dm; (3.2)
Where,

In a similar way, in keeping with theorem of the motional quantity moment, the elementary torque
created by the tangential rotational force occurring on the elementary surface of the blades
enclosed between the two cylindrical areas of radius r and r+dr, there results the relation:

dFr = u2dm (3.3)

V1, u1, w1, as well the corresponding velocities in a section downstream the rotor are
witten with the following relations:
V2 = V1,

of the blades enclosed between the two cylindrical areas of radius r and r+dr, there results the
relation:

u2 u1 (3.4)

.
v 2 (v0 v1 ) (r u1 )

u 2 (v0 v1 ) (r u1 ) (3.21)
The relation (3.11) represents the ratio of the axial induced velocity to the peripheral
velocity component us. This ratio is variable along the blade from hub to apex.
v2 u
v2 (v1 ) u2 ( 2 u1 )
2 2 (3.5)
Relation (3.23) is fulfilled provided what is in between the brackets is equal to zero. Out of
this condition, there result:
v2 u2
v2 And u1 (3.6)
2 2

NEW SOLUTION
The general case corresponds to the condition when relation (3.13) parameters are equal to one
another, yet different from zero,

That is conducing to two further conditions:

v2
v2 0 v1 0
2 (3.7)
u2
u2 0 u1 0
2 (3.8)

In the case of induced velocities as well, there can be admitted a module velocity
i1 defined as the ratio between the induced peripheral velocity u1 and the axial velocity vi as
follows:
u1 u
i1 and i 2 2 (3.9)
v1 v21
By using the definition of the induced velocity after the rotor, relation 2.23 can be written:

dv2 u 2 2v1i 2 u1
2 1 i 2
di 2 1 i 2 2
(3.33)
dv2
Cancelling of derivate
di 2
Leads to:
u12i 2 2v1i 2 u1 0 (3.10)

By solving out the equation in relation with there results : the expressions for v 2 max and
v 2 min
:

vi 2 max v1 (1 1 2i1 )
(3.11)
 There results accordingly:

From which the following expression for v2 may be inferred:

2v1 u1i 2
v2
1 2i 2 (3.12)
.

We specify that the solution given by Sabinin (4) namely v2 2v1 is valid in the case of a
module velocity i 2 1

The axial induced velocity v2 drops asymptotically at the same time with the increase of
the wind catching system induced downstream flow velocity module i 2 aiming to values v2 0

By explaining the rotor induced downstream flow axial velocity u 2 in relation (3.29),
there results:
2u1i 2 v1 i 2
v2
i 2 1 (3.13)

Out of the calculation of the asymptotic values there results, considering the limit of the
function given by relation. (3.39) for i 2 :

1
2u1 2v1
2u1i 2 v1 i 2 i 2
lim u2 lim lim 2u1
i 2 i 2 2i 2 1 1
0
1
1
i 2
2i 2 (3.14)
Therefore, there results that the minimum value towards which velocities induced after the
rotor aim when i 2 are 2u1 that is the double of the flow velocities induced upstream the
wind turbine rotor.
In order to determine the extremes of the variation function of the flow velocity v 2 induced
after the rotor, as defined by relation (3.13) the first derivate should be cancelled. There results in
this case:

2 v12i 2 2u1i 2 v1 0
2
i2 1 2
(3.15)

v12i 2 2u1i 2 v1 0 (3.16)

u1 v12 u12
ix2
v1 (3.17)

u '1 v12 u12

xx
i2
v1 (3.18)
 There results therefore

u2 max v2
u1 v12 u12
v1

v2 i1 1 2i1
(3.19)

u2 min v2
u1 v12 u12
v1

v2 i1 1 2i1
(3.20)
It is considered that the dependency relation of the induced velocity given by relation
(3.39) verifies the condition at the limit.
For u1 0 u 2 0 , the curve in figures 3.2 passes through the origin. For values of the
module velocity induced after the rotor, in the range 0 i 2 i1 the induced rotational velocity
after the rotor u 2 u1 .Thus, the solution given by Sabinin [4] is corrected through relation (3.19.)

5. CONCLUSIONS
The developed theory regarding the flowing in the horizontal shaft wind rotor leads to
values that are considerably higher than the maximum utilization efficiency because of the factor
Cpmax = 0.593 determined by means of the elementary theory of the mechanical offered by
Sabinin. This specify limit can have a much higher value, that is Cpmax=0.66.

6. REFERENCES:
[1]Rankine, W.J. Mechanical principles of the action of propellers. Trans. Inst. Naval Architects
1865, vol.6, pp13-14
[2]Froude, W. An elementary relation between pitch slip and propulsive efficiency. Trans. Inst.
Naval Architects 1865, vol 4 ,pp.69-71,
[3]Etz, A. Die Windmuhlen am Lichte neurer Fernschung Naturwiesenschaften. 1927, XV, pp985-
989.
[4]Daschevici, K.P. Impulsnaia theory vetreannih dvigatelei Sabinina Promiselnaia Aerodinamika,
vipusc 13, Oboronghiz 1959, pp8-12.
Fig. 3.2. Variation of peripheral induced velocity u 2 versus the module of induces velocities i 2