The Tip Speed Ratio is of important relevance in the design of wind turbine generators. If the rotor of the wind turbine turns too slowly, most of the wind will pass undisturbed through the gap between the rotor blades. Alternatively if the rotor turns too quickly, the blurring blades will appear like a solid wall to the wind. Therefore, wind turbines are designed with optimal tip speed ratios to extract as much power out of the wind as possible. When a rotor blade passes through the air it leaves turbulence in its wake. If the next blade on the spinning rotor arrives at this point while the air is still turbulent, it will not be able to extract power efficiently from the wind. However if the rotor span a little more slowly the air hitting each turbine blade would no longer be turbulent. Therefore the tip speed ratio is chosen so that the blades do not pass through turbulent air.
03.08.2009