Aerodynamic analyses of different wind turbine blade profiles

Abstract

For thousands of years mankind is utilizing wind energy. Increasing world population and increasingly reducing oil reserves and resulting requirement for clean, reliable, renewable energy systems intensifies the requirement for wind energy in long term. Nowadays, wind turbines are used for transforming that energy into electrical and mechanical energy. In order to gain from a wind turbine economically in maximum amounts performance data based on blade cross-section characteristics must be found. In the present study angle of attacks for 4 various blade profiles, Re numbers and correlations between lift and drag rates are investigated. Snack 2.0, computer software has been used for the calculation of lift, drag, moment and minimum pressure coefficients. For all evaluated blade profiles and all Re rates in the provided highest sliding rates most convenient angle of attack was determined in the range of 3° and 9°. According to lift-drag correlation in constant drag value as long as Re rate is higher also lift is intensified. Highest drag rates found corresponding to Re 20000. © 2007 Asian Network for Scientific Information.