Contribution of lift-to-drag ratio on power coefficient of HAWT blade for different cross-sections

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this study is to integrate the best lift-to-drag ratio zone to chief the highest power coefficient for horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) blade. Different cross-section, symmetrical, unsymmetrical, and supercritical airfoils (NACA 0012, NACA 4412, and Eppler 417) are used. FORTRAN code (f.90) was built to calculate aerodynamic data and the power coefficient based on Blade Element Momentum theory. This article deals selection of the most effective zone from the lift-to-drag ratio versus blade radius curve that gives the best incidence angle distribution. The results show a good performance that leads to approximated equal lift-to-drag distribution along the blade radius that indicates the highest power coefficient of at least 15% increases. The highest values of the power coefficient of NACA 0012, NACA 4412, and Eppler 417 were 0.476, 0.4966, and 0.482, respectively. The lift-to-drag ratio distribution zones were the most specific method of generating the maximum power coefficient for the HAWT blade. Important results and conclusion were found for further blade design.