There is no point reaching for a calculator that cannot show its working. This one starts from air density, blade length, diameter, electrical losses transmission, electrical losses on turbine, height, mechanical losses, electricity tariff, time out of order, tip speed ratio (tsr), turbine efficiency, turbine type, wake losses and wind speed and reports output power before losses, output power with losses and revolutions per minute, so you can see how each answer follows from the numbers you entered.
What Is the Wind Turbine Calculator?
The wind turbine calculator works out output power before losses, output power with losses and revolutions per minute from air density, blade length, diameter, electrical losses transmission, electrical losses on turbine, height, mechanical losses, electricity tariff, time out of order, tip speed ratio (tsr), turbine efficiency, turbine type, wake losses and wind speed.
Biological relationships are usually approximations rather than exact laws, so the output is best treated as an estimate with a sensible range around it.
How the Wind Turbine Calculation Works
The calculation applies the relationship as published, step by step, so each intermediate value can be checked against the underlying theory.
Keep the units consistent throughout. Mixing a percentage with a proportion is the single most common source of an answer that is out by a factor of a hundred.
Assumptions Worth Knowing
Any relationship used here assumes a constant rate, a representative sample, or a stable population. Real populations rarely meet those conditions for long, so treat the answer as a guide.
Where the inputs are field measurements, a single misread value can shift the result noticeably. Measure carefully and record what you used.
A Worked Example
Working through an example, with air density set to 10, blade length set to 5, diameter set to 2, the calculator returns sweep area of 78.5398, and real efficiency of -1,587,762, and revolutions per minute of 95.49297. Substitute your own figures and the same steps produce the same kind of answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to work out output power before losses?
Enter air density, blade length, diameter, electrical losses transmission, electrical losses on turbine, height, mechanical losses, electricity tariff, time out of order, tip speed ratio (tsr), turbine efficiency, turbine type, wake losses and wind speed. The calculator then works through the relationship and reports output power before losses, output power with losses and revolutions per minute.
What does the wind turbine actually calculate?
It takes air density, blade length, diameter, electrical losses transmission, electrical losses on turbine, height, mechanical losses, electricity tariff, time out of order, tip speed ratio (tsr), turbine efficiency, turbine type, wake losses and wind speed and converts them into output power before losses, output power with losses and revolutions per minute using the standard relationship for this problem. Each step is applied in turn, so every output is traceable back to the numbers you typed in.
How should I enter air density?
Use the value you actually have, in the unit shown next to the field. Enter every value in the same unit system. The calculator assumes the figures you supply are consistent, so it cannot correct a mistake that happens before the calculation starts.
Is the answer exact?
It is as exact as the formula and the inputs allow. The method itself is the standard one for this problem, so the only sources of error are the figures you enter and the precision you ask for.
Can I use this for a quick estimate as well as a precise answer?
Yes. The calculator is built for quick checks, so round your inputs to a sensible number of significant figures and the result will be just as useful. If you need more precision, keep the same method and add digits to the inputs rather than adjusting the method itself.