An Experimental Performance Assessment of a Passively Controlled Wind Turbine Blade Concept: Part A—Isotropic Materials

Abstract

This paper is the first part of a two-part series, which presents preliminary findings on a novel flexible curved wind turbine blade designed for passive control, comparing its aerodynamic performance and behavior against a conventional straight blade. Characterized by its ability to twist around its longitudinal axis under bending loads, the flexible curved blade is engineered to self-regulate in response to varying wind speeds, optimizing power output and enhancing operational safety. This design utilizes inherent elasticity and specific geometric configurations to develop torsional loads, resulting in continuous adjustment of the blade’s pitch angle via twist–bend deformation. The study focuses on a comparative analysis conducted in a wind tunnel, testing both a small-scale model of the conventional blade and the flexible curved blade of equivalent diameter. Results indicate that the flexible curved blade concept successfully moderates its rotational speed and power output at higher wind speeds and demonstrates the capability to start generating power at lower wind speeds and stabilize power effectively, aligning with sustainability goals by potentially reducing reliance on active control systems. Despite promising outcomes, passive control mechanisms did not activate at the designed wind speeds, revealing a misalignment between expected and actual performance and underscoring the need for further refinements in blade design and control settings. Additionally, the power coefficient (Cp) versus tip speed ratio (TSR) comparison showed that flexible curved blades operate within a lower TSR range and exhibit controlled capping of power under high wind conditions, marked by a distinctive ‘hook-like’ feature in Cp behavior. This study confirms the feasibility of designing and manufacturing passively controlled wind turbine blades tailored to specific performance criteria and underscores the potential of such technology. Future work, to be detailed in a subsequent paper, will explore further optimizations and the use of Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (GFPR) composite materials to enhance blade flexibility and performance.