A new design methodology and performance analysis of a low wind speed turbine

Abstract

Power generation is one of the important feature of the world that should be addressed with high level of scientific reasoning and profound knowledge in the field of energy sources. It is of great importance to be more focused in power generation, which concentrates on the basic insistence of the colossal population and that resulted in the evolution of array of methodologies in the field. Power can also be obtained from renewable resources, which include hydro power plants, solar power plants, solar thermal power plants and most importantly wind turbines. Hence harnessing and exploiting the energy comprised in the wind is important. Development of horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs) for small-scale application is important. A new design methodology is initiated to design a wind turbine system that can operate efficiently in low wind speed conditions. A six blade wind turbine system using the airfoils- Gottingen 364,384,428,480 and 682 were taken for the research. Using the knowledge of Inverse design of airfoils, the airfoil was brought into non- dimensional linear chord length and designed into blades with key factors using lift, drag and stall of the airfoils and twist of the blade segments with precious design. Hence, wind turbine of rotor system having 6 blades was designed using non- dimensional linear chord length approach with careful consideration and brought into research. To check the aerodynamic design performance, the six-bladed wind turbine system is validated using Numerical Study-Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) using standard software s (ANSYS-FLUENT) which forecast the performance of blades at low wind velocities. The average wind velocity at hub height 3m/s is taken as wind designed input and the proposed designed six blade wind turbine for each airfoils is carried for analysis and power curve is studied. Similarly, a 3-blade wind turbine system is manufactured and tested in the field using annual data s. To validate the designed model, experimental validation is brought into research The