Optimization and analysis of a novel wind turbine design for prevalent conditions in Africa for an economically viable Power generation

Abstract

The global green energy transition is of paramount concern due to the disadvantages associated with the use of fossil fuels for energy generation. Renewable energy resources are not depletable and cleaner than fossil fuel technologies. Harnessing renewable energy resources addresses the challenges associated with fossil fuel technologies, making it sustainable and attractive. The African continent is faced with the challenge of generating adequate power to meet its existing energy demands. Up to 580 million people, accounting for 70% of the sub-Saharan African populace, lack access to electricity. Africa has huge renewable energy resources, exceeding the continent’s present energy demands, which remains largely untapped, especially wind energy. Despite the wind resources available on the African continent, it is dominated by fair and marginal wind speeds and power densities, making the development of wind energy a challenge. The Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWT) is the most popular choice of wind turbine for commercialization because it offers significant advantage over the Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT). However, conventional HAWTs are heavy, expensive to purchase, install and maintain, and require high wind speeds to generate electricity, which are not available in most parts of the African continent especially in sub-Saharan Africa. This research focuses on designing and analyzing a novel wind turbine – Ferris-wheel wind turbine (FWT) – for conditions prevalent in Africa, for effective and economic power generation. This research focuses on low wind speed regions using the African continent as a case study, investigating the technical feasibility and economic viability of this wind turbine in these regions. The research aim and objectives are achieved by dividing the research into three fundamental areas: (1) designing the FWT for low wind speed regions using the African continent as a case study, (2) wind resource assessment of the African continent to determine the technical feasibility and economic viability of the FWT in the African region being studied, and (3) multi-parameter optimization to determine the most efficient wind turbine designs among the proposed FWT designs considering various input variables on some output variables. The details of the research investigations are multidisciplinary in character, involving social, economic, engineering and statistical analysis. This research’s core aims are addressed through a series of scientific publications concentrating on three fundamental areas. Paper 1 (Exploring the environmental and economic impacts of wind energy: a cost – benefit perspective) details the social impacts of wind energy both from the positive and negative perspective. Paper 5 (A preliminary feasibility study on wind resource and assessment of a novel low speed wind turbine for viii application in Africa) study the application of the novel FWT in the African continent considering the lower wind speed resource and other factors. Paper 3 (A techno-economic model for wind energy cost analysis for low wind speed regions) presents a techno-economic model developed to evaluate the techno-economic viability of wind turbines in potential sites. The effect of the number of blades on the efficiency, mass, capital and installation, and the techno-economics are explored in Papers 2, 4 and 6. Paper 2 (The effect of the number of blades on the efficiency of a wind turbine) reviews the importance of the optimal number of blades on the efficiency of a wind turbine. Paper 4 (Multi-parameter optimization of efficiency, capital cost and mass of Ferris wheel turbine for low wind speed regions) discusses a joint optimization of wind turbine rim diameter, the number of wires and blade elements, and the effects of the rated wind speeds on the efficiency, capital and installation cost and mass of the wind turbines being studied. Paper 6 (Multi-parameter optimization of performance and economics of Ferris wheel turbine for low wind speed regions) investigates the effect of varying the wind turbine diameter, number of wires and blades, wind turbine rated wind speeds, on the performance and economics of Ferris Wheel wind turbines in 21 African cities in Morocco, Chad, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda and Tanzania. The outcomes of this research suggest that there is an opportunity to harness wind energy in low wind speed areas such as the African continent using the novel FWT. Therefore, it is a strong candidate for harnessing wind energy in low wind speed areas such as the African continent. The novel FWT, as commercialized by Barber Wind Turbines, has the potential to generate power at lower wind speeds and cost than conventional wind turbines. Lower rated wind speeds, lower cost, higher efficiency, better performance, lower power to weight ratio, lower acquisition cost, ease of handling, transportation, and assembly are a few of its advantages. Countries with lower wind speeds now have hope to harness wind energy economically. This may be a major step in solving Africa’s energy challenge in both on-grid and off-grid applications, resulting in energy availability, accessibility and affordability, especially in rural Africa, and providing solutions for the energy problems facing the continent. This would also increase the percentage of wind energy resource in the continent’s energy mix. The research proves its hypothesis that a robust and viable wind turbine can be designed for low wind speed applications and other prevalent conditions in Africa for effective and economic power generation in both on- and off-grid situations.