Modeling and Simulation of a Three-Dimensional Adjustable Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine Blade, Using a Commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Code

Author(s):  
Abdul Wahab Malik ◽  
Naseem Uddin ◽  
Syed M. Hameed Ul Haq ◽  
M. Faizyab Uddin Khan ◽  
Sikandar Hayat

Wind turbines are subjected to variable wind speeds and flow patterns, this can result in variable power output from the wind turbine. A common practice to counter this problem is to create a twisted wind turbine blade, which can produce optimum output when subjected to different velocities and angle of attack. The research paper discusses the performance characteristics of the same. The research paper presents CFD modeling of a twisted blade. The strategy used for the modeling was to divide the research in two parts. In the first part CFD simulations for 2-D Airfoils were carried-out and the aerodynamic characteristics were examined. In the second part, for more realistic results, a complete 3-D Wind turbine 3 blades rotor with nacelle was examined. For both parts GAMBIT was used for geometry and grid creation (pre-processing), whereas ANSYS FLUENT was used for performing simulations and obtaining the contour plots (Processing and Post Processing).

Author(s):  
Alka Gupta ◽  
Abdulrahman Alsultan ◽  
R. S. Amano ◽  
Sourabh Kumar ◽  
Andrew D. Welsh

Energy is the heart of today’s civilization and the demand seems to be increasing with our growing population. Alternative energy solutions are the future of energy, whereas the fossil-based fuels are finite and deemed to become extinct. The design of the wind turbine blade is the main governing factor that affects power generation from the wind turbine. Different airfoils, angle of twist and blade dimensions are the parameters that control the efficiency of the wind turbine. This study is aimed at investigating the aerodynamic performance of the wind turbine blade. In the present paper, we discuss innovative blade designs using the NACA 4412 airfoil, comparing them with a straight swept blade. The wake region was measured in the lab with a straight blade. All the results with different designs of blades were compared for their performance. A complete three-dimensional computational analysis was carried out to compare the power generation in each case for different wind speeds. It was found from the numerical analysis that the slotted blade yielded the most power generation among the other blade designs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (6 Part B) ◽  
pp. 4643-4650
Author(s):  
Yan Li ◽  
Lei Shi ◽  
Wen-Feng Guo ◽  
Kotaro Tagawa ◽  
Bin Zhao

Icing accretion on wind turbine will degrade its performance, resulting in reduction of output power and even leading to accidents. For solving this problem, it is necessary to predict the icing type and shape on wind turbine blade, and evaluate the variation of aerodynamic characteristics. In this paper the icing types and shapes in presence of airfoil, selected from blade of 1.5 MW horizontal-axis wind turbine, are simulated under different ambient temperatures and icing time lengths. Based on the icing simulation results, the aerodynamic characteristics of icing airfoils are simulated, including lift and drag coefficient, lift-drag ratio, etc. The simulation results show that the glaze ice with two horns presents on airfoil under high ambient temperature such as -5?C. When ambient temperatures are low, such as -10?C and -15?C, the rime ices with streamline profiles present on the airfoil. With increase in icing time the lift forces and coefficients decrease, and the drag ones increase. According to the variations of lift-drag ratios of icing airfoil, the aerodynamic performance of airfoil deteriorates in the presence of icing. The glaze ice has great effect on aerodynamic characteristics of airfoil. The research findings lay theoretical foundation for icing wind tunnel experiment.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3.27) ◽  
pp. 456
Author(s):  
Albi . ◽  
M Dev Anand ◽  
G M. Joselin Herbert

The aerofoils of wind turbine blades have crucial influence on aerodynamic efficiency of wind turbine. There are numerous amounts of research being performed on aerofoils of wind turbines. Initially, I have done a brief literature survey on wind turbine aerofoil. This project involves the selection of a suitable aerofoil section for the proposed wind turbine blade. A comprehensive study of the aerofoil behaviour is implemented using 2D modelling. NACA 4412 aerofoil profile is considered for analysis of wind turbine blade. Geometry of this aerofoil is created using GAMBIT and CFD analysis is carried out using ANSYS FLUENT. Lift and Drag forces along with the angle of attack are the important parameters in a wind turbine system. These parameters decide the efficiency of the wind turbine. The lift force and drag force acting on aerofoil were determined with various angles of attacks ranging from 0° to 12° and wind speeds. The coefficient of lift and drag values are calculated for 1×105 Reynolds number. The pressure distributions as well as coefficient of lift to coefficient of drag ratio of this aerofoil were visualized. The CFD simulation results show close agreement with those of the experiments, thus suggesting a reliable alternative to experimental method in determining drag and lift.


Author(s):  
David M. McStravick ◽  
Brent C. Houchens ◽  
David C. Garland ◽  
Kenneth E. Davis

Due to the increasing demand for alternative energy sources and the reliability of wind turbines, the performance of different horizontal-axis wind turbine blade designs were investigated and compared through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling and wind tunnel testing. The Eppler 423 airfoil was of particular interest. In avionics the blade has been associated with high lift and a low tendency to stall, yet little is known about its performance in wind turbines. In both physical testing and ANSYS CFX 11.0 analysis, the airfoil significantly outperformed a Nordtank 41/500 turbine blade. Wind tunnel tests were performed on 12-inch diameter ABS polymer prototypes, created with a 3D printer. To exaggerate the features of each prototype and obtain more measureable differences in turbine performance, the blades are scaled down more in the radial direction than in the profile section directions. The Eppler 423 airfoil design was tested at different blade base angles. The testing identified an optimum power production for a blade base angle of 25°. In the ANSYS CFX computer simulations, the moments on to the turbine blade due to the incoming air allowed for the power generated and the coefficient of power (Cp) to be determined and compared. The Eppler profile outperformed the Nordtank blade profile in these simulations.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 (0) ◽  
pp. _1028-01_-_1028-02_
Author(s):  
Shogo NISHIMURA ◽  
Yasunari KAMADA ◽  
Takao MAEDA ◽  
Junsuke MURATA ◽  
Tinnapob PHENGPOM ◽  
...  

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 225
Author(s):  
Xiaohong Gui ◽  
Haiteng Xue ◽  
Ripeng Gao ◽  
Xingrui Zhan ◽  
Fupeng Zhao

Considering the characteristics of narrow underground space and energy distribution, based on blade element momentum theory, Wilson optimization model and MATLAB programming calculation results, the torsion angle and chord length of wind turbine blade under the optimized conditions were obtained. Through coordinate transformation, the data were transformed into three-dimensional form. The three-dimensional model of the blade was constructed, and the horizontal axis wind turbine blade under the underground low wind speed environment was designed. The static structural analysis and modal analysis were carried out. Structural design, optimization calculation and aerodynamic analysis were carried out for three kinds of air ducts: external convex, internal concave and linear. The results show that the velocity distribution in the throat of linear air duct is relatively uniform and the growth rate is large, so it should be preferred. When the tunnel wind speed is 4.3 m/s and the rated speed is 224 rad/s, the maximum displacement of the blade is in the blade tip area and the maximum stress is at the blade root, which is not easy to resonate. The change rate of displacement, stress and strain of blade is positively correlated with speed. The energy of blade vibration is mainly concentrated in the swing vibration of the first and second modes. With the increase in vibration mode order, the amplitude and shape of the blade gradually transition to the coupling vibration of swing, swing and torsion. The stress and strain of the blade are lower than the allowable stress and strain of glass fiber reinforced plastics (FRP), and resonance is not easy to occur in the first two steps. The blade is generally safe and meets the design requirements.


Author(s):  
Tao Chen ◽  
Xiao Jiang ◽  
Haipeng Wang ◽  
Qian Li ◽  
Mingzhou Li ◽  
...  

In this paper, the numerical simulation was used to investigate the effects of the leading-edge slat installation angles ( β for airfoils from 0° to 40° and β1 for blades from −20° to 40°) on the aerodynamic characteristics of the airfoil and the wind turbine blade. The chord length of the leading-edge slat is 0.1c (the chord length of the clean airfoil). The horizontal and vertical distances from its center to the leading edge of the clean airfoil are 0.005c and 0.009c, respectively. The results indicated that the lift coefficient could be significantly improved by the leading-edge slat (except β = 40°) when the attack angle exceeded 10.2°. For β = 0°, the lift coefficient increased the most. The trailing vortex of the leading-edge slat played an important role at the process of flow control. It could transfer kinetic energy from the bounder layer to its out-flow region. Furthermore, the vorticities of trailing vortex generated by the leading-edge slat with different installation angles were different, promoting several effects on the airfoil at the different cases. The torque of the blade with leading-edge slat (except β1 = −20°) was improved significantly as the leading-edge slat trailing-vortices became stronger with the higher wind-speeds.


2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alvaro Gonzalez ◽  
Xabier Munduate

This work undertakes an aerodynamic analysis over the parked and the rotating NREL Phase VI wind turbine blade. The experimental sequences from NASA Ames wind tunnel selected for this study respond to the parked blade and the rotating configuration, both for the upwind, two-bladed wind turbine operating at nonyawed conditions. The objective is to bring some light into the nature of the flow field and especially the type of stall behavior observed when 2D aerofoil steady measurements are compared to the parked blade and the latter to the rotating one. From averaged pressure coefficients together with their standard deviation values, trailing and leading edge separated flow regions have been found, with the limitations of the repeatability of the flow encountered on the blade. Results for the parked blade show the progressive delay from tip to root of the trailing edge separation process, with respect to the 2D profile, and also reveal a local region of leading edge separated flow or bubble at the inner, 30% and 47% of the blade. For the rotating blade, results at inboard 30% and 47% stations show a dramatic suppression of the trailing edge separation, and the development of a leading edge separation structure connected with the extra lift.


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