Evaluation of the Microlocal Wind Power Potential for the Operation of a University Wind Turbine

Abstract

The research deals with the estimation of the available wind's potential on the building terrace, at the P-headquarter of the Universidad ECCI of Colombia, and from the results obtained consequently verify if the wind conditions are conducive to the operation of a wind micro-turbine, currently unused. The methodology is based on the wind speed estimation; applying the velocity potential's law to the records captured, between the 1st of January and the 24th of March, 2015, by the weather station of the National University of Colombia. Once the speed of the wind is estimated in the study area, a frequency velocity distribution is performed and the graphical method is applied to determine the scale and shape parameters that allow the characterization of the function of the Weibull distribution in the study area. Finally, based on the micro turbine's specifications, the power that could be usable is estimated and it is theoretically evaluated if the wind conditions are optimal for its operation. Although wind speed data were recorded in the study area, using the Universidad ECCI weather station, they were only used as a benchmark for the estimated velocities. The estimated values of the useful power and the wind power density for the wind micro-turbine, operating at a wind speed of 4.0m/s, which represents approximately the average value of the wind speed ResumenLa investigación consiste en estimar el potencial eólico disponible en la terraza del edificio, sede P de la Universidad ECCI y verificar, a partir de los resultados obtenidos, sí las condiciones de viento son propicias para el funcionamiento de una microturbina eólica, actualmente inutilizada. La metodología se fundamenta en la estimación de velocidad de viento; aplicando la ley potencial a los registros de velocidades capturados, entre el 1 de enero y el 24 de marzo de 2015, por la estación meteorológica de la Universidad Nacional. Una vez estimada la velocidad de viento en la zona de estudio, se realiza una distribución de velocidades de frecuencia y se procede, aplicando el método gráfico, a determinar los parámetros de escala y de forma que permiten caracterizar la función de distribución de Weibull en la zona de estudio. Finalmente y a partir de algunas especificaciones de la micro-turbina, se estima su potencia útil y se evalúa, teóricamente, si las condiciones de viento son óptimas para su funcionamiento. Aunque se registraron datos de velocidad de viento en la zona de estudio empleando la estación meteorológica de la Universidad ECCI, únicamente fueron utilizados como patrón de comparación para las velocidades estimadas. Los valores estimados de la potencia útil y la densidad de potencia del viento, para la micro-turbina eólica, operando a un velocidad de viento de 4.0m/s, que representa aproximadamente el valor promedio de la velocidad de viento (obtenido con el factor de escala de la función de Weibull), son respectivamente 41 W y 0.226 W/m 2 .

Characterization, Design Testing and Numerical Modeling of a Subsonic-Low Speed Wind Tunnel

“…The Finite Difference FDM and Finite Element Methods FEM are standard numerical methods used for solving ordinary and partial differential equations. Even when there are software packages which enables to solve traditional problems in Computational Fluid Dynamics and Engineering [46]- [50], it is still useful to implement and programme the FEM including the meshing not only for fluid mechanics problems but also other problems in physics and engineering [51]- [55] [56]- [58].…”