Predicting critical velocities in telescopic wind turbines: the role of resistive mass and radius control

Richard M. Kimiti | Francis N. Kariuki | Joseph Ngugi Kamau | Timonah N. Soitah

Abstract

The invention of telescopic blade technology marks a significant step in wind turbine innovation by enabling dynamic adjustment of blade radius in response to changing wind conditions. Since its proof of concept in 2002, radius control has relied on data from conventional fixed-blade turbines, requiring costly prototype fabrication at the initial step in every new telescopic blade design.

The dependency on fixed-blade data presents a gap in cost-effective design strategies. This study proposes an alternative analytical framework that eliminates the need for preliminary fixed-blade prototypes. The method introduces an alternative radius adjustment function and investigates the role of turbine resistive mass in determining critical velocity points.