Statistical assessment of wind energy potential for power generation at Imphal, Manipur (India)

ABSTRACT

In this work, two parameters Weibull distribution method and Rayleigh distribution method have been used to estimate the wind energy potential at Imphal, Manipur located in northeast India with the objective to check the feasibility of wind power generation at this location. In this study, we analyze the wind profile using the 12 years (2005–2016) wind data collected from the Meteorological center, ICAR Research Complex, Lamphelpat, Imphal, Manipur. It is observed that the wind speed drastically increased from 2009 onward except in 2013 and 2014. Subsequently, we determine the statistical parameters of collected wind speed data using four different estimation methods. Then the probability density function, cumulative distributions function, and finally wind power density per unit area are determined. It is found that mean wind power density based on actual mean wind speed is 1.214 W/m², which is not suitable for medium or large-scale power generation. This perhaps calls for deployment of vertical axis wind turbines for harnessing wind power at small power levels.

KEYWORDS:

• Wind energy potential
• Weibull distribution
• Rayleigh distribution
• shape parameter
• scale parameter

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the meteorological center of ICAR Research Complex, Lamphelpat, Imphal for providing us with the wind data for the analysis.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Syed Mujibur Rahman

Syed Mujibur Rahman is full time Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering Department of Manipur Institute of Technology, Takyelpat, Imphal, India. He did Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering from Jorhat Engineering College of Dibrugarh University, India and Master of Engineering in Thermal Engineering from Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India. Presently he is doing PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Jadavpur University, Kolkata. He has 7 papers in international conferences and journals. He is a life member of Solar Energy Society of India (SESI). Area of interest includes energy, thermal science and CFD.

Himadri Chattopadhyay

Himadri Chattopadhyay is full time Professor in Mechanical Engineering Department of Jadavpur University, Kolkata. He has served CSIR- Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Durgapur as Scientist before joining the current faculty position.  Prof. Chattopadhyay was the Director of School of Bioscience and Engineering of Jadavpur University for two years. He has more than 200 papers in international journals and conferences and edited two proceedings. He has 2000+ citations with an H- index of 26. His research area includes thermo-fluid sciences, CFD, turbulence, heat transfer augmentation, jet impingement, bio-engineering, materials processing and energy. Prof. Chattopadhyay is a recipient of DAAD fellowship and DAAD Re-invitation fellowship. He is member of several academic bodies which includes ASME and Indian Science Congress. Apart from several Master students, fourteen Scholars have graduated so far under his guidance.