Effects of the morphed trailing-edge flap parameters on the aerodynamic performance of NREL Phase II wind turbine

Abstract

This study assesses the impact of three morphed trailing-edge flap (MTEF) parameters (flap deflection angle β, flap length b, and flap span length l) on increasing power and axial thrust coefficients and their comprehensive effect on wind turbines using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. The detailed analysis is performed on seven morphed blades at eight different wind velocities. The obtained results show that β results in the largest unit power coefficient increase rate and unit axial thrust coefficient increase rate, while l results in the smallest ones. In addition, b results in the largest power-thrust ratio increase rate. The optimum blade is achieved for β = 3°, b/ c = 0.3, and l/ R = 0.3, which results in additional power increase of 15.24% and axial thrust increase of 9.53% at a tip speed ratio of 5.949, compared with the original wind turbine.