A comparison of the performance characteristics of large 2 MW and 3 MW wind turbines on existing onshore wind farms

The aim of the current study is to compare the performance of large 2 MW and 3 MW wind turbines operating on existing onshore wind farms using Blade Element Momentum (BEM) theory and Angular Momentum (AM) theory and illustrate the performance characteristic curves of the turbines as a function of wind speed (U∞). To achieve this, the measurement data obtained from two different Wind Energy Power Plants (WEPPs) located in the Hatay region of Turkey was used. Two different horizontal-axis wind turbines with capacities of 2 MW and 3 MW were selected for evaluation and comparison. The hub-height wind speed (UD), turbine power output (P), atmospheric air temperature (Tatm) and turbine rotational speed (Ω) data were used in the evaluation of the turbine performance characteristics. Curves of turbine power output (P), axial flow induction factor (a), turbine rotational speed (Ω), turbine power coefficient (CP), blade tip speed ratio (λ), thrust force coefficient (CT) and thrust force (T) as a function of U∞ were obtained for the 2 MW and 3 MW wind turbines and these characteristic curves were compared. Results revealed that, for the same wind speed conditions, the higher-capacity wind turbine (3 MW) was operating at higher turbine power coefficient rates, while rotating at lower rotational speed ratios than the lower-capacity wind turbine (2 MW).