Multiple Pump Stage Loading of a Variable-rpin Wind Turbine

This paper studies the wind energy capture efficiency of a multiple pump stage system driven by a 50-kW wind turbine in a specified available wind energy probability density. This wind energy probability density corresponds to an average spring wind on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario. These results are compared with those of the same blade operating at optimum power coefficient; with fixed optimum pitch and constant rpm; with that of a conventional constant-rpm variable-pitch blade driving a synchronous generator. On the basis of the energy capture efficiency comparison alone, the multiple pump stage system driven by a wind turbine is nearly as efficient as operation at optimum efficiency.