Abstract
This paper describes the feasibility analysis of an innovative, extensible blade technology. The blade aims to significantly improve the energy production of a wind turbine, particularly at locations with unfavorable wind conditions. The innovative ‘smart’ blade will be extended at low wind speed to harvest more wind energy; on the other hand, it will be retracted to its original shape when the wind speed is above the rated wind speed to protect the blade from damages by high wind loads. An established aerodynamic model is implemented in this paper to evaluate and compare the power output of extensible blades versus a baseline conventional blade. The model was first validated with a monitored power production curve based on the wind energy production data of a conventional turbine blade, which is subsequently used to estimate the power production curve of extended blades. The load-on-blade structures are incorporated as the mechanical criteria to design the extension strategies. Wind speed monitoring data at three different onshore and offshore sites around Lake Erie are used to predict the annual wind energy output with different blades. The effects of extension on the dynamic characteristics of blade are analyzed. The results show that the extensive blade significantly increases the annual wind energy production (up to 20% to 30%) with different blade extension strategies. It, therefore, has the potential to significantly boost wind energy production for utility-scale wind turbines located at sites with low-class wind resource.
Highlights
Wind turbines have been used by human beings for more than 3000 years [1]
Wind farms are ideally located at locations with high-class wind
This paper describes the analyses of an innovative, extensible blade technology that aims to utilize wind energy in areas with low-class wind resources
Summary
Wind turbines have been used by human beings for more than 3000 years [1]. Its roles have evolved from performing mechanical work such as pumping, grinding and cutting to renewable energy production [2]. It will produce more energy while protecting the blade from possible damage under high wind speeds This variable length blade has been proposed for several years, there is very limited information on the aerodynamic performance characteristics of this blade. The blade will extend at low wind speeds to harvest more wind energy and it will retract to its original shape when the wind speed is above the ‘rated wind speed’ to ensure structural safety It will provide more wind energy outputs while protecting the blade from possible damage under high wind speed. The performance of this extensible blade was analyzed using blade element momentum (BEM) theory, which is an accepted method by the wind industry for wind turbine blade aerodynamic calculation and provides practice feasible conclusions. The results show the promise of the extensible blade to significantly improve energy production at sites with a low class of wind resources
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