--- ## 4. Horizontal Wind Turbine (HAWT) Solution and Comparison ### Example: Commercial HAWT (ManoMano) - **Product:** 800W, 6-blade HAWT ([link](https://www.manomano.fr/p/eolienne-sans-onduleur-puissance-de-800-w-6-pales-tension-nominale-1224-v-vitesse-du-vent-au-demarrage-1-ms-105-65-cm-89805830)) - **Rotor Diameter:** ~1.05m (area ≈ 0.87 m²) - **Rated Power:** 800W (at high wind speeds, e.g., 12-15 m/s) - **Cut-in Wind Speed:** 1 m/s (starts turning) - **Nominal Voltage:** 12/24V ### Realistic Power Output Calculation - **At 1.5m height:** Wind speed is still low (see VAWT section) - **Average wind speed used:** Same as VAWT, 3.3 m/s - **HAWT efficiency:** Typically 30-35% (use 30% for estimate) #### Power Formula $$ P = 0.5 \times \rho \times A \times v^3 \times \text{efficiency} $$ Where: - $A$ = 0.87 m² - $v$ = monthly average wind speed (see VAWT table) - $\rho$ = 1.225 kg/m³ - Efficiency = 0.30 #### Monthly Power Output Table | Month | v (m/s) | P_avg (W) | kWh/month | |-----------|---------|-----------|-----------| | January | 4.0 | 10.3 | 7.7 | | February | 4.0 | 10.3 | 7.0 | | March | 3.8 | 8.8 | 6.5 | | April | 3.5 | 6.9 | 5.0 | | May | 3.2 | 5.2 | 3.9 | | June | 3.0 | 4.3 | 3.1 | | July | 2.8 | 3.5 | 2.6 | | August | 2.8 | 3.5 | 2.6 | | September | 3.0 | 4.3 | 3.1 | | October | 3.3 | 5.4 | 4.1 | | November | 3.6 | 7.3 | 5.2 | | December | 3.9 | 8.5 | 6.3 | **Annual total:** ~57 kWh/year --- ### Comparison: VAWT vs HAWT | Type | Area (m²) | Efficiency | Annual Energy (kWh) | Pros | Cons | |--------|-----------|------------|---------------------|------|------| | VAWT | 1.0 | 25% | ~54 | Simple, omni-directional, easy to build | Lower efficiency, less power at low height | | HAWT | 0.87 | 30% | ~57 | Higher efficiency, more power at same wind | Needs to face wind, more complex, needs tail/yaw | - **Both types** at 1.5m height produce similar (low) annual energy due to low wind speed. - **HAWT** is slightly more efficient, but complexity and need to face wind are drawbacks. - **Commercial 800W HAWT** will only reach rated power in very strong winds (rare at 1.5m). --- ### Recommendations - For learning and experimentation, both types are valid. - For best results, try to raise the turbine higher (wind speed increases rapidly with height). - Use data logging to compare real output with theoretical predictions. - Consider safety and local regulations for both types. --- ## Additional References - [ManoMano HAWT Example](https://www.manomano.fr/p/eolienne-sans-onduleur-puissance-de-800-w-6-pales-tension-nominale-1224-v-vitesse-du-vent-au-demarrage-1-ms-105-65-cm-89805830) - [HAWT vs VAWT](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_wind_turbines) # Wind Turbine Experiment in Plounéventer, France (29400) ## 1. Estimating Wind Power Output ### Key Parameters - **Location:** Plounéventer, France (29400) - **Turbine Type:** Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) - **Height:** 1.5 meters above ground - **Swept Area:** 1 m² - **Field:** Open, unobstructed ### Wind Resource Estimation - **Average wind speed at 10m in Plounéventer:** ~5.5 m/s (source: wind resource maps) - **At 1.5m height:** Wind speed is lower due to ground friction. Estimate: ~60% of 10m value ≈ 3.3 m/s ### Power Calculation Formula Theoretical wind power: $$ P = \frac{1}{2} \cdot \rho \cdot A \cdot v^3 $$ Where: - $P$ = Power (W) - $\rho$ = Air density (1.225 kg/m³) - $A$ = Swept area (1 m²) - $v$ = Wind speed (m/s) **Turbine efficiency (Betz limit):** Max 59%, but real VAWT: 20-30%. Use 25% for estimate. ### Monthly Wind Speed Estimates | Month | Avg Wind Speed (m/s) | |-----------|---------------------| | January | 4.0 | | February | 4.0 | | March | 3.8 | | April | 3.5 | | May | 3.2 | | June | 3.0 | | July | 2.8 | | August | 2.8 | | September | 3.0 | | October | 3.3 | | November | 3.6 | | December | 3.9 | ### Monthly Power Output Calculation For each month: $$ P_{avg} = 0.5 \times 1.225 \times 1 \times v^3 \times 0.25 $$ | Month | v (m/s) | P_avg (W) | kWh/month | |-----------|---------|-----------|-----------| | January | 4.0 | 9.8 | 7.3 | | February | 4.0 | 9.8 | 6.6 | | March | 3.8 | 8.4 | 6.2 | | April | 3.5 | 6.6 | 4.8 | | May | 3.2 | 5.0 | 3.7 | | June | 3.0 | 4.1 | 3.0 | | July | 2.8 | 3.3 | 2.5 | | August | 2.8 | 3.3 | 2.5 | | September | 3.0 | 4.1 | 3.0 | | October | 3.3 | 5.2 | 3.9 | | November | 3.6 | 7.0 | 5.0 | | December | 3.9 | 8.1 | 6.0 | **Annual total:** ~54 kWh/year --- ## 2. Best Practices for Your Experiment ### A. Turbine Design - Use a simple, robust VAWT design (e.g., Savonius or Darrieus) - Ensure the structure is stable and safe at 1.5m height - Use lightweight, weather-resistant materials ### B. Site Selection - Place turbine in the most open, unobstructed area - Avoid trees, buildings, or other windbreaks within 20m ### C. Measurement & Data Logging - Use an anemometer at 1.5m to log real wind speeds - Install a wattmeter or data logger to record power output - Record data at least hourly for best results ### D. Safety & Legal - Ensure the installation is secure and not a hazard - Check local regulations for small wind turbines ### E. Optimization - Test different blade shapes and angles - Compare results with theoretical predictions - Try raising the turbine (if possible) to see the effect on output --- ## 3. Conclusion - At 1.5m, wind speeds are modest, so expect low power output (max ~10W, average much less) - Annual energy: ~54 kWh (best case) - Main value: learning about wind energy, data collection, and optimization --- ## References - [Global Wind Atlas](https://globalwindatlas.info/) - [Betz Limit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betz%27s_law) - [VAWT Designs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertical-axis_wind_turbine)