Field Operation and Track Tests of 1-kW Small Wind Turbine Under High Wind Conditions

A 1-kW small horizontal-axis wind turbine “Airdolphin,” capable of high wind operation up to 50 m/s without pitch control system, is now under global round robin tests. The present paper reports a series of technical approach including design/analysis, track tests, and field tests conducted in support to the design process. One windy site “Erimo” and one offshore site “Fukushima” were chosen. For example, at “Erimo,” a record of one-day generation was 8.831 kWh on November 13, 2006 (day-averaged wind speed; 11.8 m/s) with 36.8% of capacity factor. An operation data under an attack of typhoon with 50 m/s maximum wind speed demonstrated the technical concepts of high wind operation and safety. A new term “capatureability” as an indicator of WT performance was proposed.