Abstract
The design and development of wind turbines in low-wind-speed areas involves several technical and financial challenges related to maximizing conversion efficiency and minimizing cost. Unfortunately, much of the African continent is dominated by low-wind-speed resources. In this study, a multi-parameter optimization method is used to explore the design of a novel Ferris wheel wind turbine (FWT) technology, which has an 800-kW generation capability. We used the tip speed ratio, lift-to-drag ratio and power coefficient to determine the optimal efficiency by varying the number of blades and rim diameters. The capital cost estimates, as affected by rim diameter and the number of blades, are presented. This paper studies FWTs at their rated wind speeds because wind turbines have their maximum performance at the rated wind speeds, and this allows one to observe the effects of changing the rim diameter and the number of blades without the need to consider the location of the turbine. The results show that reducing the number of spokes by half (from 64 to 32) on the four rim diameters studied decreases the efficiency by less than 0.19%, while reducing the acquisition cost by 42%, installation cost by 42% and mass by 28%. Reducing the number of spokes to a quarter (i.e., from 32 to 16) decreases the efficiency by less than 0.31%, reduces the acquisition and installation costs by 36% and 35.5%, respectively, and the mass by 19.2%, of the four rim diameters studied. The reduction of the number of blades has a significant effect on the efficiency and capital cost with varying rim diameters. This paper shows the potential for Ferris-wheel-based wind turbines for low-wind-speed conditions, such as those that prevail in parts of Africa.
Highlights
Wind energy is renewable, plentiful, widely distributed and clean
The results show that, as compared to the control design (61 m (200 ft) with 64 wire spokes and 1280 blade elements), the 104 m (341 ft) rim with 32 spokes (1091 blade elements) wind turbine shows the least decrease in efficiency, and the largest decreases in capital cost, installation cost and mass
The multi-parameter optimization of a novel wind turbine based on a Ferris wheel technology for low-wind-speed regions was presented in this study
Summary
Plentiful, widely distributed and clean. It produces no greenhouse gases during operation, consumes no water and uses little land [1,2]. The rotor blades of a wind turbine that are designed for low-wind-speed areas are longer and have higher aspect ratios, so as to acquire more wind power at reduced cost. Chen and Pang examined an aero-structural design optimization for a commercial 2.1 MW wind turbine for low-wind-speed locations, focusing on reducing the cost of energy with the integrated optimization of rotors and towers, finding that increasing rotor diameter is less efficient than increasing the hub height for a low-wind-speed turbine [10]. Its multi-parameter optimization uses an 800 kW FWT as a case study and focuses on the effect of changing the rim diameter and the number of blades on the power output, efficiency, mass and capital cost of acquisition of the wind turbines. This research is innovative in that it provides the optimal sizing and selection of the FWT for specific regions in the African continent and other low-wind-speed regions globally
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
