Numerical Simulation of Strength and Aerodynamic Characteristics of Small Wind Turbine Blades

Abstract

The main aim of this research is to develop effective methods to estimate strength and aerodynamic characteristics of small wind turbine blades for receiving the maximum aerodynamic quality. The aerodynamics of the wind turbine blades has been studied depending on their geometry and flow Reynolds numbers. Finite and boundary element methods have been used for numerical simulation. The two-dimensional hexagonal mesh has been generated for aerodynamics simulation, with thickening around the blade profile and the thin boundary layer adjacent to the airfoil. Modal analysis has been carried out. A discrete analogue of the wind turbine has been created to study the aerodynamic characteristics of wind turbine blades using the Shear Stress Transport turbulence model. The influence of the attack angle on the aerodynamic characteristics has been studied, and its critical value has been found. The comparison of results of estimating the aerodynamic characteristics using boundary and finite element methods has been accomplished.