Skip to main content

Wind turbine output: 6 m blade, 8 and 16 m/s

Short answer

A = π(6)² = 113.10 m². At 8 m/s: P = 0.5×1.225×113.10×8³×0.40 ≈ 14.19 kW. At 16 m/s: P = 0.5×1.225×113.10×16³×0.40 ≈ 113.50 kW (8× due to v³).

Assume that we live in an area slightly above sea level that has an air density of 1.225 kg/m³ and we have installed a 40% efficient wind turbine which has a rotor blade radius of 6 m. Calculate the output power from the turbine at a wind speed of 8 m/s and again at double the velocity of 16 m/s.

Turbine output power:

P=12ρAv3η,A=πr2P = \frac{1}{2}\rho A v^3 \eta, \qquad A = \pi r^2

Given

ρ=1.225\rho = 1.225 kg/m³, r=6r = 6 m, η=0.40\eta = 0.40, v1=8v_1 = 8 m/s, v2=16v_2 = 16 m/s.

Swept area

A=π×62=113.10 m2A = \pi \times 6^2 = 113.10\ \text{m}^2

At v1=8v_1 = 8 m/s

Pw1=0.5×1.225×113.10×83=0.5×1.225×113.10×512=35,467 WP1=0.40×35,467=14,187 W\begin{aligned} P_{w1} &= 0.5 \times 1.225 \times 113.10 \times 8^3 \\ &= 0.5 \times 1.225 \times 113.10 \times 512 = 35{,}467\ \text{W} \\ P_1 &= 0.40 \times 35{,}467 = 14{,}187\ \text{W} \end{aligned}

At v2=16v_2 = 16 m/s

Pw2=0.5×1.225×113.10×163=0.5×1.225×113.10×4096=283,739 WP2=0.40×283,739=113,495 W\begin{aligned} P_{w2} &= 0.5 \times 1.225 \times 113.10 \times 16^3 \\ &= 0.5 \times 1.225 \times 113.10 \times 4096 = 283{,}739\ \text{W} \\ P_2 &= 0.40 \times 283{,}739 = 113{,}495\ \text{W} \end{aligned}

Check

P2P1=(168)3=8,8×14.187=113.50 kW\frac{P_2}{P_1} = \left(\frac{16}{8}\right)^3 = 8, \qquad 8 \times 14.187 = 113.50\ \text{kW}

Answer: Output ≈14.19\approx 14.19 kW at 8 m/s and ≈113.50\approx 113.50 kW at 16 m/s; doubling the wind speed raises the power 8 times.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

All Power Plant Design chapter 1 questions →