Design and analysis of energy efficient wind turbine blades

Abstract

Inspired by humpback whale flippers, this study presents the effect of leading-edge tubercles on the wind turbine blade. Force models for lift and drag are developed on the blade which have an important role in the wind turbine performance. The study compares the CFD simulation of fluid flow over blade with leading edge tubercles and the conventional blade. Present work also covers strength and random vibration analysis for both the blades. Furthermore, different tubercle blades have been compared for lift and drag coefficients by varying tubercle amplitude. Structural analysis shows tubercled blade is suitable from structural and strength point view. In tubercled blade overall lift to drag-coefficient ratio increased up to 8.5, whereas in conventional this ratio is about 1.7 which is found to be very low. This ratio clearly indicates that in the presence of tubercles on the blade, performance improving even in lower wind speed areas. Overall tubercled blade found to be more suitable for modern wind turbines.