Wind energy systems lab
Inspect the turbine. Change conditions. Follow the energy.
Drag to orbit 360° · scroll to zoom · right-drag to pan. Select a component to inspect it.
Rotor
9.16 RPM · 1.88 MWThe blades and hub rotate together, converting wind energy into shaft torque.
Hiding is for visual inspection; it does not remove a component from the simulation.Uses the current yaw, efficiencies and dispatch limit; the dot shows the operating point.
Time stops when paused or the page is hidden. History retains the last 180 samples.
Power balance
- Wind power across swept area
- 3.91 MW
- Mechanical power
- 1.88 MW
- Generator output
- 1.78 MW
- Total conversion losses
- 175.8 kW
- Overall efficiency · electricity / wind power
- 43.7 %
- Local load supplied by wind
- 0.0 kW
- Demand not covered by wind
- 0.0 kW
- Grid export after local load
- 1.71 MW
- Generator speed
- 888.1 RPM
- Main shaft torque
- 1965.9 kN·m
- Tip-speed ratio λ
- 7.55
- Yaw misalignment
- 0°
Energy & losses
1.709 MWh · Projection at constant conditions for the selected duration; not a weather forecast.
- Drivetrain
- 0.0 kW
- Generator
- 105.5 kW
- Converter
- 26.7 kW
- Transformer
- 26.3 kW
- Cables
- 17.3 kW
Local load is accounted for after interconnection. Remaining demand is not counted as grid import.
Engineering model & sources
P = ½ ρ A v³ Cp · A = π D² / 4 · E = ∫P dt · Cp ≤ 16/27
Quasi-steady teaching model: an approximate Cp curve calibrated at its peak, cos³ yaw loss and a 1.5 m/s startup ramp above cut-in. Rated power limits generator output before converter, transformer and cable losses. Pitch automatically increases when power is limited. Temperature and pressure determine dry-air density.
The NREL preset uses 5 MW, 126 m diameter, 90 m hub height, 97:1 ratio, 94.4% generator efficiency, peak Cp 0.482 at λ=7.55 and wind limits 3 / 11.4 / 25 m/s. The other presets are illustrative teaching configurations, not manufacturer specifications. Geometry is an engineering representation rather than certified CAD; gears and bearings are illustrative.
Controls update the steady operating state immediately. Inertia, structural loads, turbulence and CFD are not solved. Monitoring pauses when the page is hidden; reduced motion stops visual animation while calculations continue. This lab does not certify or design a physical turbine.
NREL/TP-500-38060 · Definition of a 5-MW Reference Wind Turbine