Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-2022-81
https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-2022-81
14 Oct 2022
 | 14 Oct 2022
Status: this preprint is currently under review for the journal WES.

Towards Smart Blades for Vertical Axis Wind Turbines: Different Airfoil Shapes and Tip Speed Ratios

M. Rasoul Tirandaz, Abdolrahim Rezaeiha, and Daniel Micallef

Abstract. Future wind turbines will benefit from state-of-the-art technologies that allow them to not only operate efficiently in any environmental condition, but also to maximize the power output and cut the cost of energy production. Smart technology, based on morphing blades, is one of the promising tools that could make this possible. The present study serves as a basis for identifying morphing airfoils as functions of azimuthal angle and tip speed ratio for vertical axis wind turbines. The focus of this work is on the combined analysis of three airfoil shape-defining parameters, namely the maximum thickness t/c and its chordwise position xt/c as well as the leading-edge radius index I. A total of 126 airfoils are generated. The analysis is based on 630 high-fidelity transient CFD simulations, validated with three experiments. The results show that with increasing λ, the optimal maximum thickness decreases from 24 %c to 10 %c, its chordwise position shifts from 35 %c to 22.5 %c, while the corresponding leading-edge radius index remains at 4.5. The results show an average improvement of nearly 0.06 in CP for all the values of λ.

M. Rasoul Tirandaz et al.

Status: final response (author comments only)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on wes-2022-81', Anonymous Referee #1, 09 Nov 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on wes-2022-81', Anonymous Referee #2, 03 Jan 2023
  • AC1: 'Comment on wes-2022-81', Rasoul Tirandaz, 25 Mar 2023

M. Rasoul Tirandaz et al.

M. Rasoul Tirandaz et al.

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Short summary
Vertical Axis wind turbines experience a variation of torque and power throughout their rotation. Traditional non-morphing blades are intrinsically not able to respond to this variation, resulting in a turbine which has suboptimal performance. In principle, it is possible to have a morphing blade that adapts to the blade's rotation and changes its geometry in such a way as to optimise the performance of the turbine. This paper addresses the question of how such blades should morph as it rotates.