Comparative Study of Wind Energy Conversion Systems for Sokoto Using Three Different Methods for Evaluation of Weibull Parameters

ABSTRACT

This study presents the performance of two wind energy conversion systems WECS in Sokoto location (13.0N, 5.3E and 297m above sea level) using three different methods for evaluation of weibull parameters. Average monthly wind speed data for five years for the selected location was obtained from the Nigeria Metrological Agency (NIMET). The turbines selected are e3001 (1000W) and Ge power system 1.5SL (1500W) whose power ratings is 1kW and 1.5kW respectively. The three selected methods for evaluation of weibull parameters are Mean standard deviation method (MSD), Method of moment method (MOM) and energy pattern factor method (EPF). The monthly wind speed data for Sokoto for five years shows that wind speeds ranges from 3.51m/s in September to 6.20m/s in January. The results shows that e3001 1kW and Ge PS 1.5kW turn out to be both promising using the Standard deviation method with an annual
average capacity factor of 0.28% and 0.38% as compared to when Method of moment and Energy pattern factor is used with an annual capacity factor of 0.07%, 0.11%, 0.55% and 0.66% for the two turbines respectively.