Abstract
This study aims to assess the performance of a winglet attached at the tip of NREL phase VI Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT) blade by using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis. In this study, CFD methodology is developed to evaluate the HAWT output torque and compare the pressure coefficient results with the experimental study performed in a wind tunnel environment at varying wind speeds (7m/s, 10m/s, 15m/s and 20m/s) and different sections. The results from the CFD analysis compares well with the results obtained from the wind tunnel study. With a tip attachment at HAWT blade, the CFD analysis indicated an increase of torque output by 13% at 7 m/s and 25% at 20 m/s. Maximum increase is 30% at 15m/s. By using the winglet, the vortices are smeared out along the vertical portion of the winglet. So, the induced drag gets decrease, and torque or power generated increases. The significantly reduced intensity of vortices is obtained by implementing the winglet. Further, the flow visualization along the downstream of the blade is observed and compared for baseline blade and blade with winglet.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call