Evaluation of micro-wind turbine aerodynamics, wind speed sampling interval and its spatial variation

Abstract

Large wind turbines are usually installed in areas where wind speed distributions have been observed long enough to make sure of their high efficiency. However, micro-wind turbines are mostly used in areas where wind conditions are not necessarily favourable for efficient power production. Therefore, micro-wind turbines require specific designs to work effectively in low and turbulent wind resource areas. However, because this is not the case, more experimental results are being published in recent years that report under-achieving micro-wind turbines. In the present article, a similar under-achievement is reported. The experience gained from the wind energy project undertaken at Napier University is reported, as well as the analysis of the wind speed data collected at the facility and at Edinburgh Airport, some 16 km away from it. Practical applications: A micro-wind energy system can be one of the most promising technological solutions for producing electricity in residential applications for remote consumers as well as in urban areas provided that the problems reported in the literature are successfully tackled. The currently reported research project identifies such problems associated with micro-wind turbines, stemming from their use in urban areas on roofs of buildings. Thus, this will contribute both to the understanding of micro-wind turbines and to their possible improvements in the coming years.