1. What is the Wind Turbine Power Equation?

The wind turbine power equation calculates the theoretical power available in the wind that can be converted to mechanical energy by a wind turbine. It's fundamental for wind turbine design and energy production estimation.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the wind power equation:

Where:

• \( P \) — Power (watts)
• \( \rho \) — Air density (kg/m³, typically 1.225 at sea level)
• \( A \) — Swept area of turbine blades (m²)
• \( v \) — Wind speed (m/s)
• \( C_p \) — Power coefficient (Betz limit: 0.59 maximum)

Explanation: The equation shows that power increases with the cube of wind speed, making site selection critical for wind energy projects.

3. Importance of Wind Power Calculation

Details: Accurate power calculation helps in sizing turbines, estimating energy production, and determining project feasibility and economics.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter air density (default 1.225 kg/m³ for sea level), swept area (πr² for circular blades), wind speed, and power coefficient (typically 0.35-0.45 for modern turbines).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the Betz limit?
A: The Betz limit (59%) is the theoretical maximum fraction of wind energy a turbine can extract, due to fundamental physics constraints.

Q2: How does air density affect power?
A: Power is directly proportional to air density. At higher altitudes where air is less dense, turbines produce less power.

Q3: Why is wind speed cubed in the equation?
A: The kinetic energy in wind increases with the cube of velocity, making small increases in wind speed result in large power gains.

Q4: What's typical swept area for turbines?
A: Commercial turbines range from 200m² (15m blades) to over 12,000m² (60m+ blades) swept area.

Q5: How accurate are these calculations?
A: This gives theoretical maximum. Real-world output is typically 20-40% of theoretical due to various losses and operational factors.