Effect Weibull Distribution Parameters Calculating Methods on Energy Output of a Wind Turbine: A Study Case

摘要

Wind energy is an important renewable energy source. It is considered as one of the most significant, freely available and alternative source of energy distributed throughout the world. The estimation of the potential of wind energy in a site plays a vital role in estimating the energy output of the wind turbines and, therefore, affects economics and decision making. Site characterization can be expressed mathematically in different methods. Weibull distribution is one of the most common methods used to represent wind energy potential in a site. In this study, wind speed data was collected for year 2013, from Jan 2013 to Dec 2013. The data collected for three different heights (20 m, 40 m and 60 m) from measurement station installed at Jordan University of science and technology campus area (Irbid, Jordan). The data recorded based on ten minutes averages using a data logger. Yearly shape factor (k) and scale factor (c), of Weibull distribution for the wind speed are calculated for each height using graphical and standard deviation methods. Both arithmetic and cubic mean wind speeds were used to estimate Weibull parameters. Then, the energy outputs of Vestas V80-2.0 wind turbine installed at the site were estimated using calculated Weibull parameters and actual estimation. The results are compared to check the accuracy of methods of estimating Weibull parameters. A new method of characterizing the site is proposed and tested. The method is based on Weibull distribution but the specific power density is the main variable of the distribution function. The results showed that this method is the most accurate method among all tested methods.