Abstract:
PROPX is a FORTRAN computer program that predicts horizontal axis wind turbine performance. Although not as sophisticated as some codes, it gives a good initial
impression of performance with a minimal of required input data. PROPX accounts for
effects such as: Prandtl tip losses, wake expansion effects, cascade effects, rotating wake
effects, blade coning, gap corrections, generator losses, blade twist, and airfoil characteristics
for variable thickness blade sections. The program also calculates the frequency and
static tip displacement of the rotor blades for the first flatwise bending mode as a function
of wind speed.
The core of the program uses a combined blade element/momentum theory approach
to the determine force, torque, and power acting on the rotor blade as a function
of wind speed. This theory is implemented with integration and iteration techniques limited
in accuracy only by the incrementation the step size. .
Input and output for PROPX are maintained in user friendly formats which allow
for quick data analysis. Wind turbine characteristics are input into an approximately one
page text format data file read directly by the main program. The output file prints turbine vital performance parameters with the option of an expanded output for more detailed
analyses. Both the input and output files are accessible by almost any text editor or
word processing program .
