Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine Blade Design And Its Aerodynamic Performance Analysis Using Improved Blade Element Momentum Theory Wind Tunnel Measurement And Numerical Simulation

The exploitation of small horizontal axis wind turbines provides a clean, prospective and viable option for energy supply. Although great progress has been achieved in the wind energy sector, there is still potential space to reduce the cost and improve the performance of small wind turbines. An enhanced understanding of how small wind turbines interact with the wind turns out to be essential. This work investigates the aerodynamic design and analysis of small horizontal axis wind turbine blades via the blade element momentum (BEM) based approach and the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) based approach. From this research, it is possible to draw a series of detailed guidelines on small wind turbine blade design and analysis. The research also provides a platform for further comprehensive study using these two approaches. The wake induction corrections and stall corrections of the BEM method were examined through a case study of the NREL/NASA Phase VI wind turbine. A hybrid stall correction model was proposed to analyse wind turbine power performance. The proposed model shows improvement in power prediction for the validation case, compared with the existing stall correction models. The effects of the key rotor parameters of a small wind turbine as well as the blade chord and twist angle distributions on power performance were investigated through two typical wind turbines, i.e. a fixed-pitch variable-speed (FPVS) wind turbine and a fixed-pitch fixed-speed (FPFS) wind turbine. An engineering blade design and analysis code was developed in MATLAB to accommodate aerodynamic design and analysis of the blades. The linearisation for radial profiles of blade chord and twist angle for the FPFS wind turbine blade design was discussed. Results show that, the proposed linearisation approach leads to reduced manufacturing cost and higher annual energy production (AEP), with minimal effects on the low wind speed performance. Comparative studies of mesh and turbulence models in 2D and 3D CFD modelling were conducted. The CFD predicted lift and drag coefficients of the airfoil S809 were compared with wind tunnel test data and the 3D CFD modelling method of the NREL/NASA Phase VI wind turbine were validated against measurements. Airfoil aerodynamic characterisation and wind turbine power performance as well as 3D flow details were studied. The detailed flow characteristics from the CFD modelling are quantitatively comparable to the measurements, such as blade surface pressure distribution and integrated forces and moments. It is confirmed that the CFD approach is able to provide a more detailed qualitative and quantitative analysis for wind turbine airfoils and rotors. With more advanced turbulence model and more powerful computing capability, it is prospective to improve the BEM method considering 3D flow effects.

This chapter describes the process of aerodynamic rotor design for horizontal axis wind turbines. Apart from describing the state-of-the-art, it presents the mathematical models used, explains how airfoil and rotor control choice are decided and lists common design constraints. An example is used to illustrate the rotor design process, covering all the main aspects from choice of rotor size, airfoil types and number of blades to the exact aerodynamic shape of the blades. At the end of the chapter there is a summary of future trends and sources of further information.

Wind Turbine Airfoils and Blades introduces new ideas in the design of wind turbine airfoils and blades based on functional integral theory and the finite element method, accompanied by results from wind tunnel testing. The authors also discuss the optimization of wind turbine blades as well as results from aerodynamic analysis. This book is suitable for researchers and engineers in aeronautics and can be used as a textbook for graduate students.

As the fastest growing source of energy in the world, wind has a very important role to play in the global energy mix. This text covers a spectrum of leading edge topics critical to the rapidly evolving wind power industry. The reader is introduced to the fundamentals of wind energy aerodynamics; then essential structural, mechanical, and electrical subjects are discussed. The book is composed of three sections that include the Aerodynamics and Environmental Loading of Wind Turbines, Structural and Electromechanical Elements of Wind Power Conversion, and Wind Turbine Control and System Integration. In addition to the fundamental rudiments illustrated, the reader will be exposed to specialized applied and advanced topics including magnetic suspension bearing systems, structural health monitoring, and the optimized integration of wind power into micro and smart grids.

Aerodynamics of Wind Turbines is the established essential text for the fundamental solutions to efficient wind turbine design. Now in its second edition, it has been entirely updated and substantially extended to reflect advances in technology, research into rotor aerodynamics and the structural response of the wind turbine structure. Topics covered include increasing mass flow through the turbine, performance at low and high wind speeds, assessment of the extreme conditions under which the turbine will perform and the theory for calculating the lifetime of the turbine. The classical Blade Element Momentum method is also covered, as are eigenmodes and the dynamic behaviour of a turbine. The new material includes a description of the effects of the dynamics and how this can be modelled in an ?aeroelastic code?, which is widely used in the design and verification of modern wind turbines. Further, the description of how to calculate the vibration of the whole construction, as well as the time varying loads, has been substantially updated.

A review of the aerodynamics, design and analysis, and optimization of wind turbines, combined with the author’s unique software Aerodynamics of Wind Turbines is a comprehensive introduction to the aerodynamics, scaled design and analysis, and optimization of horizontal-axis wind turbines. The author –a noted expert on the topic – reviews the fundamentals and basic physics of wind turbines operating in the atmospheric boundary layer. He then explores more complex models that help in the aerodynamic analysis and design of turbine models. The text contains unique chapters on blade element momentum theory, airfoil aerodynamics, rotational augmentation, vortex-wake methods, actuator-line modeling, and designing aerodynamically scaled turbines for model-scale experiments. The author clearly demonstrates how effective analysis and design principles can be used in a wide variety of applications and operating conditions. The book integrates the easy-to-use, hands-on XTurb design and analysis software that is available on a companion website for facilitating individual analyses and future studies. This component enhances the learning experience and helps with a deeper and more complete understanding of the subject matter. This important book: Covers aerodynamics, design and analysis and optimization of wind turbines Offers the author’s XTurb design and analysis software that is available on a companion website for individual analyses and future studies Includes unique chapters on blade element momentum theory, airfoil aerodynamics, rotational augmentation, vortex-wake methods, actuator-line modeling, and designing aerodynamically scaled turbines for model-scale experiments Demonstrates how design principles can be applied to a variety of applications and operating conditions Written for senior undergraduate and graduate students in wind energy as well as practicing engineers and scientists, Aerodynamics of Wind Turbines is an authoritative text that offers a guide to the fundamental principles, design and analysis of wind turbines.

This book offers an introduction to the topic for professionals and students with a diverse range of backgrounds. Wind Turbine Aerodynamics is a self-contained textbook that shows how to progress from the basics of fluid mechanics to modern wind turbine blade design. It presents the fundamentals of fluid dynamics and inflow conditions, as well as extensive information on theories describing the aerodynamics of wind turbines. After examining a number of related experiments, the book applies the lessons learned to blade design. The text of the 2nd edition has been thoroughly revised, with a focus on improved readability. The examples and solutions have been extended to explain each problem in much greater detail.

Growing energy demand and environmental consciousness have re-evoked human interest in wind energy. As a result, wind is the fastest growing energy source in the world today. Policy frame works and action plans have already been for- lated at various corners for meeting at least 20 per cent of the global energy - mand with new-renewables by 2010, among which wind is going to be the major player. In view of the rapid growth of wind industry, Universities, all around the world, have given due emphasis to wind energy technology in their undergraduate and graduate curriculum. These academic programmes attract students from diver- fied backgrounds, ranging from social science to engineering and technology. Fundamentals of wind energy conversion, which is discussed in the preliminary chapters of this book, have these students as the target group. Advanced resource analysis tools derived and applied are beneficial to academics and researchers working in this area. The Wind Energy Resource Analysis (WERA) software, provided with the book, is an effective tool for wind energy practitioners for - sessing the energy potential and simulating turbine performance at prospective sites.

In the wind industry, the current trend is towards building larger and larger turbines. This presents additional structural challenges and requires blade materials that are both lighter and stiffer than the ones presently used. This study is aimed to aid the work of designing new wind turbine blades by providing a comparative study of different composite materials. A coupled Finite-Element-Method (FEM) - Blade Element Momentum (BEM) code was used to simulate the aerodynamic forces subjected on the blade. For this study, the finite element study was conducted on the Static Structural Workbench of ANSYS, as for the geometry of the blade it was imported from a previous study prepared by Cornell University. Confirmation of the performance analysis of the chosen wind turbine blade is presented and discussed including the generated power, tip deflection, thrust and tangential force for a steady flow of 8m/s. A homogenization method was applied to derive the mechanical properties and ultimate strengths of the composites. The Tsai-Hill and Hoffman failure criterions were both conducted to the resulting stresses and shears for each blade composite material structure to determine the presence of static rupture. A progressive fatigue damage model was conducted to simulate the fatigue behavior of laminated composite materials, an algorithm developed by Shokrieh.