Local design, testing and manufacturing of small mixed airfoil wind turbine blades of glass fiber reinforced plastics: Part II: Manufacturing of the blade and rotor

Abstract

Wind energy has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years in Jordan as one of the possible alternative renewable energy resources. Almost all of the local research and development activities in this field were directed to explore, develop and optimally utilize wind energy systems. The time has come to establish a link between the local scientific (academic) work and local industries to produce a usable technology which will increase the local share in an inevitably emerging wind energy industry in Jordan. To achieve this goal, a well founded manufacturing base is required. In part I of this research, two airfoil sections were chosen and the rotor blade was designed as a combination of these airfoils. In this paper (part II), the blade and the blade rotor will be manufactured, tested and its performance examined. The rotor was manufactured of GRP composite material and then installed on a 15 kW grid connected, pitch controlled wind machine. The blade has also passed successfully all required tests and, when installed on a functional wind turbine, performed satisfactorily with a favorable power coefficient of 41.2%.