1. What is the Wind Power Formula?

Definition: This formula calculates the theoretical power available in the wind based on air density, rotor area, wind velocity, and turbine efficiency.

Purpose: It helps engineers and renewable energy professionals estimate potential power generation from wind turbines.

2. How Does the Formula Work?

The formula is:

Where:

• \( P \) — Power (Watts)
• \( \rho \) — Air density (kg/m³)
• \( A \) — Rotor swept area (m²)
• \( v \) — Wind velocity (m/s)
• \( C_p \) — Power coefficient (turbine efficiency)

Explanation: The power increases with the cube of wind velocity, making higher winds dramatically more powerful. The power coefficient represents what percentage of the wind's power the turbine can extract.

3. Importance of Wind Power Calculation

Details: Accurate wind power estimation is crucial for turbine design, site selection, and energy production forecasting in wind farm projects.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips:

• Standard air density at sea level is 1.225 kg/m³
• Rotor area = π × (blade length)²
• Power coefficient is typically 0.35-0.45 (max theoretical is 0.59)
• Wind velocity has the greatest impact on power output

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is velocity cubed in the formula?
A: The kinetic energy in wind increases with the cube of velocity - doubling wind speed provides 8 times more power.

Q2: What's a typical power coefficient for turbines?
A: Most modern turbines have coefficients between 0.35 and 0.45, limited by the Betz limit of 0.59.

Q3: How does air density affect power?
A: Power is directly proportional to air density. Colder air is denser, providing more power at the same wind speed.

Q4: How do I calculate rotor area?
A: Area = π × (blade length)². For a turbine with 30m blades: π × 30² ≈ 2827 m².

Q5: Why can't C_p exceed 0.59?
A: This is the Betz limit - the theoretical maximum percentage of wind energy that can be extracted.