Performance Investigation of Wind Rotor in Open and Bounded Environments

• Main Author: Abd Majid, Zulfadhli
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Teknologi Petronas 2011
• Subjects: TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery
• Online Access: http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/10568/1/2011%20-%20Performance%20Investigation%20of%20Wind%20Rotor%20in%20Open%20and%20Bounded%20Environment.pdf; http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/10568/
• Institution: Universiti Teknologi Petronas

Wind rotor usually operates in free surrounding condition or open environment. The efficiency of the power output is depend on how much wind energy can be converted by the wind rotor. The aim of this project is to conduct experiment which will lead to the wind rotor performance investigation upon the installation in bounded environment. Assumption made regarding the efficiency of wind rotor is that it will increase in bounded environment due to the reduction width of side escape streamline of the wind flow. Thus, this will increase the power production rate of the wind rotor. Two different types rotor blades design were tested in several methods of installation to investigate the performance. These rotor blades were tested in three types of installation which are in open, partially bounded and fully bounded environments. The data required from this experiment are the rotor blade rotation per minute (RPM) and the rotating torque of the rotor blade (N.m). Based on the data obtained during experiment, wind rotor performance criteria which are power coefficient (Cp), torque coefficient (CT), tip speed ratio (TSR) and rotor power (Pcotoc) can be evaluated by calculation. This report emphasis and focus on brief explanation of general and specific views and perspectives of wind rotor. This is a continuation of the "Progress Report" submitted earlier this semester for Final Year Project 2 (FYP II) and the content of this report was updated with the progress achieved. Based on analyzed data from experimental work, highest value of Cp is 0.28 and highest value of CT is 0. 7 4, both obtained when wind rotor operates in fully bounded environment (nozzle-diffuser casing).