Numerical and experimental study of the performance of a micro wind turbine

This project aims to study the performance of the Rutland 504 micro wind turbine by means of a numerical simulation, and by implementing an experimental analysis.The numerical approach allows the computation of the aerodynamic efficiency of the rotor, understood as the power that can be extracted from the wind and converted into mechanical energy. This study is based on the Blade Element Momentum Theory using the two dimensional features of the wind turbine blade’s aerofoil. On the other hand, the experimental study is accomplished in order to measure the electrical power provided to a battery. Measures of the wind speed, the rotational speed of the rotor, and the current and voltage provided to a 12 V battery allows the evaluation of the total efficiency of the Rutland 504, understood as the electrical power generated from the total power available in the wind.