Wind Turbine Dynamometer Range Equipment

Wind energy provided one of the earliest forms of mechanical power with a wide range of momentum based wind-powered machines (windmills). Today full size wind turbines typically use the lift generated by aerofoils to provide torque to the electrical generator. Whilst most modern wind turbines are horizontal axis types, there is also support for emerging vertical axis designs. Cussons provides a range of products to permit realistic experiments with flat bladed horizontal axis wind turbines including considerations of energy extraction and forces on the structure. The P3130A Wind Generator Set is designed to test small scale wind power turbines of up to 450 mm blade diameter. The equipment is designed to allow use inside a laboratory that does not have access to a wind tunnel. Students can measure power coefficients, compare power coefficients to theoretical limits (the Betz limit), produce power curves for stall regulated and pitch regulated turbines and determine thrust coefficients etc.