DESIGN OPTIMIZATION OF SMALL WIND TURBINE BLADE BASED ON STRUCTURAL AND FATIGUE LIFE ANALYSES

Abstract

In this paper, the horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) blade model with a power of 5 kW and a length of 2.5 m was designed using MATLAB code based on the blade element momentum theory (BEMT) method. The Finite Element Method was used to simulate and validate the blade of wind turbine under normal and extreme operating wind load conditions to compute the deflections. The approach of the standard IEC 61400.2 was applied to obtain the fatigue loads, estimate damage, and predict the life of the blade. After analyzing the results of the Finite Element model for the studied E-glass MY 750 under the influence of normal operating winds, it was found that there is an optimization in the deflection of the flapwise by 11% and the deflection of the trailing and leading-edge by 31%. A great agreement was also obtained between the results of the FEM compared with the case H of SLM operating in extreme winds condition. The fatigue life of the wind turbine blade was also studied and it was found that the fiberglass material will not work more than 0.1 years by the SLM method and 4.18 years by the aeroelastic method (FAST software). Finally, it was found by the SLM method the studied blade of 5 kW will have a design life of 20 years if it is made of carbon fiber material.