Abstract- As one of the fifth major urban cities in Nigeria, high demand for electricity in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria is evident, and hence, requires high installed capacity for steady conventional source. At present this is hardly met, coupled with its attendant risk of undesirable emissions and other disadvantages. This paper considers that the conventional energy source may be supported or entirely replaced by the alternative renewable sources to meet demands for electricity as well as minimize the risk of undesirable emissions including other limitations of the conventional sources. It therefore presents a study of wind energy conversion system to be installed along the Choba banks of the New Calabar River. The system should be capable of serving electricity need of the University of Port Harcourt and the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital all in Port Harcourt. The study focused on the horizontal axis wind farm turbine rotor aerodynamic performance analysis using the blade element momentum theory and economic evaluation of the wind energy conversion system. It showed that, to meet with the total power requirement of 21 [MW] in the University and its teaching hospital for a projected period of 20 years, rotor blades of each of the wind farm turbine optimally designed for capacity of 1.5 [MW], wind velocity of 17.5 [m/s], and for airfoil shape of NACA 2412 are desired. The power and torque of the designed blades having positive non linear relationship with wind velocity must be achieved. Besides, an economic study of the system revealed savings in costs of N8, 633,032,101.98 as compared with the existing diesel plant.
Key Words: Port Harcourt Nigeria Wind Energy Conversion System Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine Blade Element Momentum Theory Turbine Rotor Blade Aerodynamic Performance
Primary Language | English |
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Journal Section | Articles |
Authors | |
Publication Date | September 1, 2013 |
Published in Issue | Year 2013 Volume: 3 Issue: 3 |