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MECH 481 Wind Energy Units: 3.50
An introductory course on wind-turbine operation and aerodynamics. Topics include: the Betz limit; the Blade Element Momentum method; characteristics of the atmospheric boundary layer; unsteady aerodynamic theory; gusts and blade aeroelasticity; blade noise and health effects; and wind-park siting and planning. Extension of some of these topics to small wind turbines, run-of-the-river water turbines and off-grid systems will also be presented. Students are expected to have sufficient experience with fluid dynamics equivalent to MECH 341. Those who have not taken such a course will need to prepare through self-study.
NOT OFFERED 2024-2025
(Lec: 3, Lab: 0, Tut: 0.5)
NOT OFFERED 2024-2025
(Lec: 3, Lab: 0, Tut: 0.5)
Requirements: Prerequisites: Must be registered in BSCE or BASC program.
Corequisites:
Exclusions:
Offering Term: F
CEAB Units:
Mathematics 0
Natural Sciences 0
Complementary Studies 0
Engineering Science 42
Engineering Design 0
Offering Faculty: Smith Engineering
Course Learning Outcomes:
- Solve problems involving the aerodynamic and structural performance of wind-turbine blades.
- Determine the technical, economic, environmental and societal compromises necessary towards specific wind-turbine designs and their siting.
- Conduct blade design optimization using a custom MATLAB code and subsequently perform validation of these designs with related laboratory experiments.
- Identify challenges and potential solutions to both technical and non-technical hurdles for wind-turbine integration.
- Apply qualitative and quantitative reasoning to convincingly support specific wind turbine designs.