Turbine Power Curves

When creating a new turbine type it is necessary to enter in the values for the power curve. Should these values be the standard power at sea level (1.225 kg/m3), or should they be set to the air density at the site you're currently working on with the proper air density value for the elevation set as well? If I set it to sea-level values with a density of 1.225, will the program recognize the elevation of the data and reset the curve to appropriate values during an energy capture?

Also, what changes in the calculation when "Use IEC 61400-12..." box is checked?

Thanks,

Jackson

Ok, I found the answer to my first question in the openwind theoretical basis and validation booklet.

I'm still curious about the second?

Hi Jackson,

The IEC adjustment attempts to adjust the power curve to take account of air density values different from the air density at which the power curve was measured (or calculated). Normally, these days, a turbine manufacturer will provide a family of power curves for a range of air densities. If you have this information then openWind will interpolate between these power curves to apply the correct power curve at each turbine according to the air density at each turbine. OpenWind will do this regardless of whether you have the IEC adjustment checked or not. Only when the air density falls outside the range of the input air densities wil openWind use the IEC adjustment. In the case of one power curve (at 1.225 say) then most/all air densities will fall outside this range.

In general you should have that IEC adjustment checkbox checked but you should also try to have a family of power curves which is adequate for the range of air density found at your site so that openWind never has to use the IEC adjustment.

Does that make sense?

Nick

Absolutely. Thanks!

Greetings,

Regarding the turbine types, is there a way to insert turbine files in OpenWind, I mean in the way we do in other softwares likes Windframer, by using something similar to a *.pow or a *.wtg?
The file extension for turnine files in OW is *.tbn, is there any way to make it compatible with *.pow or *.wtg, in order to be accepted?

Thanks
Regards.