Abstract
The currently geometric and aerodynamic characteristics for wind turbine airfoils with the medium thickness are studied to pursue maximum aerodynamic performance, while the interaction between blade stiffness and aerodynamic performance is neglected. Combining the airfoil functional integration theory and the mathematical model of the blade cross-section stiffness matrix, an integrated design method of aerodynamic performance and structural stiffness characteristics for the medium thickness airfoils is presented. The aerodynamic and structural comparison of the optimized WQ-A300 airfoil, WQ-B300 airfoil, and the classic DU97-W-300 airfoil were analyzed. The results show that the aerodynamic performance of the WQ-A300 and WQ-B300 airfoils are better than that of the DU97-W-300 airfoil. Though the aerodynamic performance of the WQ-B300 airfoil is slightly reduced compared to the WQ-A300 airfoil, its blade cross-sectional stiffness properties are improved as the flapwise and edgewise stiffness are increased by 6.2% and 8.4%, respectively. This study verifies the feasibility for the novel design method. Moreover, it also provides a good design idea for the wind turbine airfoils and blade structural properties with medium or large thickness.
Highlights
Wind energy, as a clean and renewable energy, has attracted more and more attention from all over the world
The design of airfoil profiles with medium thickness, in which the maximum relative thickness is between 25% and 35%, has been the focus of aerodynamic performance of wind turbine blades
On the basis of functional analysis of wind turbine airfoils, it is found that the airfoil shape function φ(θ) directly affects the airfoil geometry characteristics and aerodynamic performance
Summary
As a clean and renewable energy, has attracted more and more attention from all over the world. Wind turbines that can transfer wind energy into electricity production have been developing rapidly in the world in recent years. The blades, as one of the key components of wind turbines, cost about 20% of the whole machine. Their good design, reliable quality, and superior performance are the decisive factors to improve the utilization rate of wind energy and ensure stable operation of wind turbines. The key factors for the design of wind turbine blades are the aerodynamic performance and the structural properties of wind turbine airfoils. The design of airfoil profiles with medium thickness, in which the maximum relative thickness is between 25% and 35%, has been the focus of aerodynamic performance of wind turbine blades. Tangler and Somers [1,2] designed 35 kinds of airfoils named the NREL-S
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