Bearing friction effect on cup anemometer performance modelling

Abstract

In the present work, the effect of the friction forces at bearings on cup anemometer performance is studied. The study is based on the classical analytical approach to cup anemometer performance (2-cup model), used in the analysis by Schrenk (1929) and Wyngaard (1981). The friction torque dependence on temperature was modelled using exponential functions fitted to the experimental results from RISØ report #1348 by Pedersen (2003). Results indicate a logical poorer performance (in terms of a lower rotation speed at the same wind velocity), with an increase of the friction. However, this decrease of the performance is affected by the aerodynamic characteristics of the cups. More precisely, results indicate that the effect of the friction is modified depending on the ratio between the maximum value of the aerodynamic drag coefficient (at 0ºyaw angle) and the minimum one (at 180ºyaw angle). This reveals as a possible way to increase the efficiency of the cup anemometer rotors. Besides, if the friction torque is included in the equations, a noticeable deviation of the rotation rate (0.5-1% with regard to the expected rotation rate without considering friction) is found for low temperatures.