Improved analytical method to study the cup anemometer performance

Abstract

The cup anemometer rotor aerodynamics is analytically studied based on the aerodynamics of a single cup. The effect of the rotation on the aerodynamic force is included in the analytical model, together with the displacement of the aerodynamic center during one turn of the cup. The model can be fitted to the testing results, indicating the presence of both the aforementioned effects.

Studies on Cup Anemometer Performances Carried out at IDR/UPM Institute. Past and Present Research

“…This approach takes into account the aerodynamic forces produced by cup rotation, together with the aforementioned forces derived from the cup direction with respect to the wind (that is, the aforementioned aerodynamic forces measured in static position). Making reasonable assumptions, this model was compared to testing results [33]. As it can be observed in Figure 11, the model was able to predict cup anemometer performances quite accurately, taking into account the effect of the geometric variable rr.…”

“…After that, Schrenk [76] developed the classic model that was initially used by the IDR/UPM staff to study the cup anemometer behavior [22,29]. Since 2012, a new analytical model that takes into account the aerodynamic forces on the three cups of the rotor has been developed at IDR/UPM Institute [24,27,31,33]. At this point, it might be necessary to underline the importance of the analytical models.…”

“…With regard to the aforementioned wind speed sensors calibration, this line of work has produced a strong research, mainly focused on cup anemometers (see Figure 1) [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34]. Additionally, some relevant research devoted to sonic anemometers has been carried out at IDR/UPM [35][36][37][38][39].…”

Performance analysis of present cup anemometers

“…Finally, the effort in the last years seems to be focused on the progressive lack of accuracy due to the anemometer wear and tear that might compromise the wind turbine optimal energy production [45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53]. According to the work performed at the IDR/UPM institute [1,[55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65], the authors believe that there is still room for improving the cup anemometer design and its accuracy. This improvement might come from: new analytical models, better output signal generators, more efficient rotors in terms of aerodynamics, and output signal processing, that could filter effects such as the three rotor accelerations per turn due to the cups, and the inertia problems (overspeeding).…”

Design and Development of a 5-Channel Arduino-Based Data Acquisition System (ABDAS) for Experimental Aerodynamics Research

“…The common work at the IDR/UPM Institute, related to experimental aerodynamics [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ], cup anemometer calibration and behavior characterization [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ], space components analysis (batteries, solar panels, control systems) [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ], and space thermal analysis [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ], has driven the development of the 5-channel Arduino-Based Data Acquisition System (ABDAS) described in the present paper. The purpose of this development is to have a simple but accurate multi-purpose 10–500 Hz sampling rate voltage-data acquisition system capable of being used in different measurement problems from measuring temperatures with thermocouples to wind-tunnel pitot-tube pressure signals.…”