Modeling and optimal design of small HAWT blades for analyzing the starting torque behavior

Abstract

This paper presents a computational framework for an optimal aerodynamic blade design. Analysis of the wind turbine rotor is conducted using blade element momentum (BEM) theory. The geometric parameters of the wind turbine also have been calculated by BEM theory. The methodology and design approach is discussed in detail throughout this paper. A small three-bladed horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) is designed to improve its starting torque behaviour. The study of the starting torque behaviour, its analysis, and a new approach to smoothen it, is the important part of this work. The simulation results show that a turbine starts rotating with a smooth rising torque, and after ten seconds it gains a constant torque and a constant angular velocity which seems to be quite encouraging thus reducing the mechanical vibration of the system. The MATLAB is used to get the blade geometry parameters and aerodynamic forces along the blade span, the Pro/ENGINEER is used for the solid structure modeling of the wind turbine and ADAMS is being used for the simulation purpose.