Energy Conversion Performance of Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbines under Variations in Blade Geometry
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31185/wjes.Vol14.Iss2.890Keywords:
Horizontal-axis wind turbine, Blade geometric parameters, Energy conversion efficiency, Chord length and twist angle distributions, Blade aerodynamic analysis, Numerical simulationAbstract
This paper presents a three-dimensional numerical investigation of the aerodynamic behavior of a horizontal-axis wind turbine (HAWT) blade based on the experimental NREL Phase VI model. The objective is to evaluate how selective geometric modifications affect energy conversion efficiency under different wind conditions. The reference blade geometry was reconstructed from experimental data, and a computational model was developed in ANSYS Fluent by solving the steady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations coupled with the k–ω SST turbulence model. The baseline model was validated against measured aerodynamic torque at a free-stream wind speed of 7 m/s, showing deviations below 10%. After validation, seven alternative blade designs were created by adjusting chord length and twist angle distributions along the span. Their aerodynamic performance was assessed at wind speeds of 5, 7, 9, and 11 m/s in terms of torque, power, and power coefficient (Cp). The results show that the impact of geometric changes depends strongly on wind speed and blade region. Root modifications mainly improved starting torque at low wind speeds, whereas mid-span changes increased power and Cp at moderate speeds. Conversely, adjustments aimed at reducing downwind aerodynamic stresses enhanced power at higher wind speeds. Among all configurations, simultaneous modifications of chord and twist produced the most balanced and stable performance over a wider operating range. Overall, the findings demonstrate that relatively small geometric changes can improve wind turbine performance. The proposed numerical framework offers a method for design and optimization of HAWT blades.
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