Performance Characteristics of A Micro Wind Turbine Integrated on A Noise Barrier

Nikolaos Chrysochoidis-Antsos, Gerard J.W. van Bussel, Jan Bozelie, Sander M. Mertens and Ad J.M. van Wijk
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Nikolaos Chrysochoidis-Antsos: Department of Process & Energy (P&E), Delft University of Technology, 2628 CB Delft, The Netherlands
Gerard J.W. van Bussel: Department of Aerodynamics Wind Energy Flight Performance & Propulsion (AWEP), Delft University of Technology, 2629 HS Delft, The Netherlands
Jan Bozelie: Qirion Alliander, 6921 RL Duiven, The Netherlands
Sander M. Mertens: De Haagse Hogeschool, The Hague University, 2628 AL Delft, The Netherlands
Ad J.M. van Wijk: Department of Process & Energy (P&E), Delft University of Technology, 2628 CB Delft, The Netherlands

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-29

Abstract: Micro wind turbines can be structurally integrated on top of the solid base of noise barriers near highways. A number of performance factors were assessed with holistic experiments in wind tunnel and in the field. The wind turbines underperformed when exposed in yawed flow conditions. The theoretical cosθ theories for yaw misalignment did not always predict power correctly. Inverter losses turned out to be crucial especially in standby mode. Combination of standby losses with yawed flow losses and low wind speed regime may even result in a net power consuming turbine. The micro wind turbine control system for maintaining optimal power production underperformed in the field when comparing tip speed ratios and performance coefficients with the values recorded in the wind tunnel. The turbine was idling between 20%–30% of time as it was assessed for sites with annual average wind speeds of three to five meters per second without any power production. Finally, the field test analysis showed that inadequate yaw response could potentially lead to 18% of the losses, the inverter related losses to 8%, and control related losses to 33%. The totalized loss led to a 48% efficiency drop when compared with the ideal power production measured before the inverter. Micro wind turbine’s performance has room for optimization for application in turbulent wind conditions on top of noise barriers.

Keywords: micro wind turbines; performance; experiment; field test (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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