1. What is the Wind Turbine Power Equation?

The wind turbine power equation calculates the theoretical power available in the wind that can be captured by a wind turbine. It's based on fundamental physics principles of kinetic energy in moving air.

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 is 0.59)

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

3. Importance of Power Calculation

Details: Accurate power calculation helps in assessing potential energy production, turbine sizing, and economic feasibility of wind energy projects.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter air density (default is sea level value), 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: Why is wind speed cubed in the equation?
A: The kinetic energy in wind increases with the cube of velocity, meaning small increases in wind speed produce large power increases.

Q2: What is the Betz limit?
A: The theoretical maximum efficiency of 59.3% that any wind turbine can achieve, due to fundamental physics constraints.

Q3: How does air density affect power?
A: Power is directly proportional to air density. Higher elevations with less dense air produce less power for the same wind speed.

Q4: What's a typical power coefficient for real turbines?
A: Most modern turbines achieve 35-45% of the Betz limit due to mechanical and electrical losses.

Q5: How do I calculate swept area?
A: For horizontal axis turbines, A = π × (blade length)². For a 50m blade turbine: π × 50² ≈ 7854 m².