Making an anemometer. Power from the wind Power in the wind Power in the wind Effect of air density, Effect of air density, Effect of swept.

Measuring the WindMaking an anemometer

Wind in Colorado

How Wind Energy Works

Power from the wind

•Power in the wind • Effect of air density, • Effect of swept area, A• Effect of wind speed, V

R

Power in the Wind = ½ρAV3

Wind Speed (V) Most important part of

equation Power is a cubic

function of wind speed◦V X V X V◦ 20% increase in wind

speed means 73% more power

◦ Doubling wind speed means 8 times more power

(power =½ρAV3)

Effect of wind speed on production

Same turbine, two different wind regimes:

◦ Yampa (8.3 mph) 1,200 kWh/year

◦ Sheep Mtn: (18.4 mph) 6,500 kWh/year

“Micro-Siting” to maximize generation at a site

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