RELIABILITY LEVEL IN THE FUNCTIONAL EVALUATION OF ENERGY DENSITY FROM THE ACTIVITY RESPONSES OF AVERAGE WIND SPEED AND POWER DENSITY

Abstract

This paper presents the reliability level in the functional evaluation of Energy Density (ED) from the activity responses of Average Wind Speed (AWS) and Power Density (PD). Results generated from the research showed that ED increases with increase in the quotient of PD and AWS^0.27. Evaluation of ED was carried out using a derived and validated empirical model. The response coefficient of the ED to combined influence of the AWS and PD was evaluated to ascertain the viability and reliability of the highlighted dependence. Regression generated results showed trend of data point distribution similar to those from actual and derived model. Evaluation of energy density per unit wind speed and per unit power density were calculated as 11.44, 10.01 and 10.1 (kWh/m²)(m/s)^-1 and 0.74, 0.65 and 0.66 (kWh/W) as obtained from actual, predicted and regression results respectively. The correlations between energy density and wind speed & power density as evaluated from the actual, derived and regression results were all ? 0.98. Standard errors incurred in predicting energy density as a function of wind speed & power density instead of going through conventional the experiment were ? 0.15 and 0.03 respectively.  The validity of the model; ? = ? [??^0.27]^-1 was rooted on the insignificant deviation of model-predicted values of energy density from the corresponding experimental values which was less than 7%. This translated into over 93% operational confidence, response and reliability level for the derived model as well as over 0.93 response coefficient of ED to the collective operational contributions of AWS and PD.

KEYWORDS: Reliability level, Functional Evaluation of Energy Density, Average Wind Speed, Power Density