Flexible Blade Design For Wind Energy Conversion Devices

Wind turbines are designed to operate optimally at a certain set of ambient conditions, termed the design point. An unavoidable consequence of wind turbine design is that away from this point, efficiency can drop drastically which inhibits energy conversion, especially in highly varying winds. Numerous strategies have been employed, for example blade pitch and torque control systems, which mitigate these losses, but such systems are economically costly and are usually only present in larger scale applications. For small Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbines (HAWTs) as well as most Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs), pitch control strategies in particular are either too complex or simply not economically feasible. Recent research into flexible bladed wind turbine rotor design has shown that continuous, passive blade morphing can increase aerodynamic lift, reduce drag, and even delay stall for two-dimensional airfoil sections. These studies, however, do not take into account centrifugal or gravitational loadings which can change the morphing direction of the flexible material. In this thesis, a fully three-dimensional Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) solver is developed and used to simulate a flexible HAWT rotor, with comparisons to experimental results, also conducted herein. The experimental findings, which compare geometrically identical rigid and flexible rotors, show a marked increase in average torque and operational envelope over a wide range of flow conditions. Through the analysis of the associated FSI simulations, these performance increases are attributed to small changes in local attack angles, acting to mitigate losses associated with flow separation. After validation with experimental data, the FSI solver is then utilized to investigate the effects of flexible blade design on a VAWT, the first analysis of its kind. Results indicate that efficiency increases are realized not by improving the maximum rotor torque, which varies along VAWT rotation, but by increasing the torque minima through passive deflection of the blades. This morphing action augments the local attack angle to decrease the magnitude of low-pressure regions created due to blade stall, acting to improve average rotor torque and increase energy capture of the flexible VAWT design when compared to a geometrically identical rigid one.

Advances in Wind Turbine Blade Design and Materials, Second Edition, builds on the thorough review of the design and functionality of wind turbine rotor blades and the requirements and challenges for composite materials used in both current and future designs of wind turbine blades. Reviews the design and functionality of wind turbine rotor blades Examines the requirements and challenges for composite materials used in both current and future designs of wind turbine blades Provides an invaluable reference for researchers and innovators in the field of wind

Wind energy’s bestselling textbook- fully revised. This must-have second edition includes up-to-date data, diagrams, illustrations and thorough new material on: the fundamentals of wind turbine aerodynamics; wind turbine testing and modelling; wind turbine design standards; offshore wind energy; special purpose applications, such as energy storage and fuel production. Fifty additional homework problems and a new appendix on data processing make this comprehensive edition perfect for engineering students. This book offers a complete examination of one of the most promising sources of renewable energy and is a great introduction to this cross-disciplinary field for practising engineers. “provides a wealth of information and is an excellent reference book for people interested in the subject of wind energy.” (IEEE Power & Energy Magazine, November/December 2003) “deserves a place in the library of every university and college where renewable energy is taught.” (The International Journal of Electrical Engineering Education, Vol.41, No.2 April 2004) “a very comprehensive and well-organized treatment of the current status of wind power.” (Choice, Vol. 40, No. 4, December 2002)

There is a growing global demand for "clean" energy due to an increased mandate to reduce greenhouse gases. Wind energy has established itself as an economically competitive source due to major developments made in the efficiency and reliability of conversion systems. Currently, horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs) dominate the wind energy conversion market because of their high efficiency. However, recent advances in vertical axis conversion systems are closing the gap in efficiency. A novel flexible blade concept with the ability to morph and adapt to changing flow conditions was proposed by A. Beyene and T. Ireland, to address part load and performance issues encountered in wind energy conversion systems. The extension of these benefits to a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) would make wind technology a more competitive player in the energy market. A straight bladed vertical axis wind turbine (SB-VAWT) rotor was manufactured, to accommodate flexible and rigid blades. The performance and flexible behavior was studied in the department of mechanical engineering's low speed wind tunnel using a test rig that was built for this study. A mathematical model, validated using a high speed camera and finite element analysis, was developed to predict the magnitude and direction of blade morph. The results show that the coefficient of performance (CP) greatly depends on the tip speed ratio (TSR), i.e., the rigid blade has CP of 0.11 for a TSR of 1.6, whereas the morphing blade achieved a CP of 0.06 at a TSR of 1.13. Overall, the modified morphing blade has better performance at low RPMs, but the rigid blade performed better at high RPMs. It was observed that the VAWT equipped with flexible blades self-started in the majority of the experiments. The flexible blade's production of power at relatively low TSRs is a rare occurrence in the field. At high RPM, the centrifugal force overwhelmed the lift force, bending the blade out of phase in an undesired direction increasing drag and therefore reducing the CP. These results suggest that alterations to the current design must be made in order to account for the inertial forces experienced by blades in a vertical axis configuration.

Wind energy is gaining critical ground in the area of renewable energy, with wind energy being predicted to provide up to 8% of the world’s consumption of electricity by 2021. Advances in wind turbine blade design and materials reviews the design and functionality of wind turbine rotor blades as well as the requirements and challenges for composite materials used in both current and future designs of wind turbine blades. Part one outlines the challenges and developments in wind turbine blade design, including aerodynamic and aeroelastic design features, fatigue loads on wind turbine blades, and characteristics of wind turbine blade airfoils. Part two discusses the fatigue behavior of composite wind turbine blades, including the micromechanical modelling and fatigue life prediction of wind turbine blade composite materials, and the effects of resin and reinforcement variations on the fatigue resistance of wind turbine blades. The final part of the book describes advances in wind turbine blade materials, development and testing, including biobased composites, surface protection and coatings, structural performance testing and the design, manufacture and testing of small wind turbine blades. Advances in wind turbine blade design and materials offers a comprehensive review of the recent advances and challenges encountered in wind turbine blade materials and design, and will provide an invaluable reference for researchers and innovators in the field of wind energy production, including materials scientists and engineers, wind turbine blade manufacturers and maintenance technicians, scientists, researchers and academics. Reviews the design and functionality of wind turbine rotor blades Examines the requirements and challenges for composite materials used in both current and future designs of wind turbine blades Provides an invaluable reference for researchers and innovators in the field of wind energy production

An approximate method for the analysis of interaction between wind flow and rigid flat blades is considered. The method allows synthesis and optimization of wind energy conversion systems without using space-time-programming procedures. By this method, the action of wind flow on the blade is subdivided on frontal pressure and vacuum (depression) on leeward side. The method was tested by computer simulation and experiments in wind tunnel. Examples of optimization tasks are solved in application to blades with simple shape. New wind energetic device with controlled orientation of flat blades to air flow is developed. Theoretical and experimental analysis of blade,Äôs interaction with airflow is performed. Aerodynamic coefficients for blade,Äôs drag and lifting forces are determined experimentally in wind tunnel. Optimization of system parameters is made. To increase the efficiency of energy transformation, it is proposed to change, by special law, the orientation of blade,Äôs working surface relative to airflow during rotation of the rotor. It is shown that the optimal angular rotation frequency ratio between rotor and blade is equal to two. Serviceability and main advantages of the proposed method are confirmed by experiments with physical model of airflow device.

This book provides in-depth coverage of the latest research and development activities concerning innovative wind energy technologies intended to replace fossil fuels on an economical basis. A characteristic feature of the various conversion concepts discussed is the use of tethered flying devices to substantially reduce the material consumption per installed unit and to access wind energy at higher altitudes, where the wind is more consistent. The introductory chapter describes the emergence and economic dimension of airborne wind energy. Focusing on “Fundamentals, Modeling & Simulation”, Part I includes six contributions that describe quasi-steady as well as dynamic models and simulations of airborne wind energy systems or individual components. Shifting the spotlight to “Control, Optimization & Flight State Measurement”, Part II combines one chapter on measurement techniques with five chapters on control of kite and ground stations, and two chapters on optimization. Part III on “Concept Design & Analysis” includes three chapters that present and analyze novel harvesting concepts as well as two chapters on system component design. Part IV, which centers on “Implemented Concepts”, presents five chapters on established system concepts and one chapter about a subsystem for automatic launching and landing of kites. In closing, Part V focuses with four chapters on “Technology Deployment” related to market and financing strategies, as well as on regulation and the environment. The book builds on the success of the first volume “Airborne Wind Energy” (Springer, 2013), and offers a self-contained reference guide for researchers, scientists, professionals and students. The respective chapters were contributed by a broad variety of authors: academics, practicing engineers and inventors, all of whom are experts in their respective fields.

This exploration of the technical progress of wind energy conversion systems also examines potential future trends and includes recently developed systems such as those for multi-converter operation of variable-speed wind generators and lightning protection.