Maximum Efficiency of a Wind Turbine

by Taylor Mowery

Submitted : Spring 2012

The focus of the project concentrates on the differentiation of a manipulated equation in order to find the maximum amount of kinetic energy that may be extracted from a wind turbine. In order to find the equation which will give you the maximum Power from kinetic energy when differentiated, the rate at which the kinetic energy is extracted from the wind must first be equated to the rate of energy transfer to the turbine blades. With mathematical application, a common variable can be solved for in terms of both equations, and then plugged back into one of the original equations which measures the rate of kinetic energy being extracted. Differentiating this new equation, gives a representation of the maximum rate at which kinetic energy can be extracted from wind power. In conclusion, this maximum exists when the wind speed initially approaching the turbine is three times as large as the windspeed leaving the turbine.

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