Integrated Design of Aerodynamic Performance and Structural Characteristics for Medium Thickness Wind Turbine Airfoil

Abstract

The currently geometric and aerodynamic characteristics for wind turbine airfoils with the medium thickness are studied to pursue maximum aerodynamic performance, while the interaction between blade stiffness and aerodynamic performance is neglected. Combining the airfoil functional integration theory and the mathematical model of the blade cross-section stiffness matrix, an integrated design method of aerodynamic performance and structural stiffness characteristics for the medium thickness airfoils is presented. The aerodynamic and structural comparison of the optimized WQ-A300 airfoil, WQ-B300 airfoil, and the classic DU97-W-300 airfoil were analyzed. The results show that the aerodynamic performance of the WQ-A300 and WQ-B300 airfoils are better than that of the DU97-W-300 airfoil. Though the aerodynamic performance of the WQ-B300 airfoil is slightly reduced compared to the WQ-A300 airfoil, its blade cross-sectional stiffness properties are improved as the flapwise and edgewise stiffness are increased by 6.2% and 8.4%, respectively. This study verifies the feasibility for the novel design method. Moreover, it also provides a good design idea for the wind turbine airfoils and blade structural properties with medium or large thickness.

Comparison of Single and Dual Coherent Blades for a Vertical Axis Carousel Wind Rotor Using CFD and Wind Tunnel Testing

“…The blades set on the shaft drive the wind turbine generator, and the gearbox regulates the speed of the generator depending on the speed of the rotor, which movement is forced by the wind force. Therefore, the efficiency of the rotor is mainly related to the shape of the blades [4]. The most common solution of HAWTs, for both high, medium, and low power, is the three-bladed rotor design with airfoil-shaped cross sections, as shown in Figure 1a.…”

Diseño de formas aerodinámicas de las palas de aerogeneradores mediante algoritmos genéticos: una primera aproximación

“…Quan Wang presenta un novedoso enfoque de diseño integrado para perfiles aerodinámicos de espesor medio, rendimiento aerodinámico y características de rigidez estructural [7]. Rui Yin proporciona en su artículo una estrategia de diseño óptimo para una pequeña pala de turbina eólica a través de la optimización multiobjetivo del perfil aerodinámico utilizando algoritmos genéticos e investigaciones CFD sobre el rendimiento aerodinámico en estado estacionario y no estacionario [8].…”