Innovative Wind Turbine Selection Method using Modified WeibullProbability Function

Abstract

In this work, a three-year wind data for some sites in Jordan was analyzed. Two sites showed highly promising potential. Both predicted more than 1.0 MWh/m2.y. This work modified the probability function of Weibull – Hiester and Pennel to produce more accurate potential speed values for the wind. Results showed that this modification enhanced energy potential by 30%. The interaction of wind turbine performance data with site wind data was then discussed. The yearly output energy of different machines was the objective function for an optimization process with rating velocity (Vr) as the main variable. The resulted optimum energy was found to depend on the two variables of the Wiebull function. Optimum Vr was found to range from 4.2 to 5.6 for the sites considered. The optimum Vr can be used as a selection parameter for the best suitable turbine.