Wind Potential Assessment and Optimization of Wind Turbine Blade for Coastal Area of Jiwani Balochistan Pakistan

Abstract

The coastline of Pakistan extends 1,050 km (650 miles), with an high wind energy potential in areas of Jiwani and Pasni. This high potential wind energy may be efficiently utilized if it is properly assessed and optimization techniques are applied. The present work is related to the assessment of wind potential for the coastal area of Jiwani Balochistan and consequently steps are suggested to optimize the wind turbine blade for effective utilization of the available wind energy through numerical modeling and simulation.. The aim of the research work is to focus on the wind conditions in Jiwani coastal site and to assess the requirement for a small scale wind turbine and perform the design optimization of the turbine blades to produce power at even low wind speeds. Four years wind data (i.e. 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009) of the Jiwani was collected and based upon the available data wind turbine blade was designed and optimized for maximum power output for that area. This study addresses the method of wind turbine blade optimization through Blade Element Momentum (BEM) theory and results were confirmed through CFD software COSMOS flow works 2009. The work was carried out on a three blade horizontal axis wind turbine by considering the performance of its blades and effect of changing the airfoil sections of the blade along its length. The best blade shape was obtained from BEM theory calculations with maximum coefficient of performance (CP). The design parametric studies were conducted for six sections of blade including angle of twist, length of blade, chord and found the significant effect over the coefficient of performance (CP). It was shown that the efficiency of wind turbine may be improved and power output can be enhanced through the change in design of blade as well as by the angle of twist.