AbstractTorque associated with rotor stall is shown to be an important factor in the yaw behaviour of fixed pitch horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWT). For a given operating machine, the best performance occurs when the plane of rotation is perpendicular to the wind velocity for all wind speeds,V, less than a fixed value,V0. ForV>V0a velocity dependent torque yaws a free rotor to more efficient energy gathering positions provided the yaw torque exceeds the corresponding machine frictional torque. The optimum angular positions (yaw trajectories) computed from dynamic equilibrium considerations are compared with, and shown to be in satisfactory agreement with, solutions furnished by a model based on a postulated energy gathering function. The postulational approach developed is particularly useful because of its generality and simplicity in describing the performance of a HAWT. It is noted that although it is advantageous from a performance point of view to yaw the rotor to the optimum position corresponding to a given wind velocity established by either dynamic equilibrium or the energy gathering model, one must be aware of the accompanying increase in cyclic loading. On the other hand, maintaining the plane of rotation perpendicular to the wind velocity at all times could result in significant performance losses as well as fatigue problems in fixed pitch rotors, especially during stall conditions.
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