ABSTRACT
The proper design of a wind turbine for a site requires an accurate characterization of the wind at the site where it will operate. The wind is generated by pressure gradients resulting from non-uniform heating of the earth's surface by the sun. On a global scale, hot air is generated in the equatorial regions. The chapter describes the methods for Weibull model fits which include: Graphical method, Standard deviation method, Moment method, Maximum likelihood method, and Energy pattern factor method. The ultimate estimate to be made in selecting a site for a wind turbine or wind farm is the energy that is available in the wind at the site. The chapter details the tools that are available to perform such measurements. These are Wind Speed Anemometers, Cup Anemometer, Propeller Anemometer, Pitot-static Pressure Anemometers, and Sonic Anemometers. Other instrumentation that is used to compile wind data for wind turbine power predictions includes independent measurements of temperature, humidity and static pressure.
