Horizontal axis wind turbine blade (HAWT) analysis based on blade element momentum theory (BEM) for some cities in Nigeria

Abstract

In this research, the blade element momentum (BEM) theory of a horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) blade with 1 kW power output has been analysed for one station across the six geopolitical zones. Twenty years wind speed data (2000 – 2020) obtained from Nigeria meteorological Agency (NIMET) Head quarter, Abuja. In an effort to optimally explore and utilize wind energy, an optimal design of wind turbine blade needs to be obtained. Therefore, a computational method to analysed and optimize the performance of the wind turbine blades needs to be developed. For that purpose, a computational method based on the Blade Element Momentum (BEM) theory is developed in this study. In this method, the blade of a wind turbine is divided into several elements and it is assumed that there is no aerodynamic interaction amongst the elements. Furthermore, this (BEM) method incorporated with equations from momentum and blade element theories to obtain equations which are useful in wind turbine blades design process. In this research a computed result for aerodynamic characteristics based on BEM theory shows that, Maiduguri Metropolis is suitable for surface wind electrification among the selected stations with an estimated maximum wind power of 1.774?? at total lift to drag ratio (?_?/?_?) of 27.2674 and a mean relative velocity of 14.99m/s. There is an agreement with my findings and that of other researchers.