Session: 17-01-01 Research Posters

Paper Number: 77412

Start Time: Thursday, 02:25 PM

77412 - Design of a Wind Turbine Blade to Maximize Power Output With Simulated and Experimental Analysis 

Wind turbines are in high demand as production of renewable energy rises. Traditional power production discharges large amounts of carbon emissions that contribute to climate change. Small wind turbines introduce sustainable electricity into residential areas with lower prices and require a smaller installation area compared to large wind turbines. To reach a larger scope of application, a wind turbine is needed to be able to produce sufficient wind power at lower wind speeds. With lower wind speeds, wind turbine power production is reduced, therefore, a wind turbine blade design with adequate geometry design to increase the starting torque and overall power efficiency is suggested. Structural and vibrational analysis were also done to ensure a safe and dependable blade. 

A blade design for a tri-blade wind turbine was produced for Erath County in Texas which on average receives low wind speeds. The twist angle and chord length along with the thickness of the blade influence the power coefficient (efficiency) and starting torque. The twist angle and chord length are established based on the Blade Element Momentum theory with airfoil data from computer aided engineering (CAE) flow simulations, and the thickness is based on the selected cross sectional airfoil design. The overall power coefficient of the wind turbine blade was calculated through mathematical analysis. The 3D CAD model is designed to be tested using (CAE) analysis as well as in a wind turbine. The CAE simulations include the flow, structural and frequency analysis to determine the stresses, deflections, and temperature changes along the blade. The 3D CAD model was printed out using a 3D printer in order to perform experimental tests including three sensors that are attached to the blade to measure frequencies, deformations, and temperatures in the wind tunnel at various wind speeds. 

Transmitter and receiver modules were constructed to collect and communicate data, the transceiver component consisted of a radio wave emitter and receiver that sends raw data from sensors attached to the wind blade. A piezoelectric sensor and four 120 ohm strain gauges are attached to the blade to record movement and deflection, reading frequency and voltage fluctuations associated with vibrations and deformations. Simultaneously, a temperature sensor is collecting data of the surface temperature of the blade. 

Selection of the wind turbine blade design is determined by which blades twist angle, chord length, and thickness maximizes power efficiency output safely. The blades’ safety information comes from the measured differences in frequencies, deformations, and temperature from both the CAE simulations and the wind tunnel. The wind turbine blade produces results that verify its ability to cover the average yearly energy consumption for a texas resident at wind speeds similar to Erath county in a safe and efficient manner. 

The iteration process is based on the change in thickness of the blade and its efficiency effects. With each iteration of the blade, the static deflections in both static and flow simulations along with the vibrational data from the flow simulations for both the CAE and experimental measurements is compared for accuracy and validation of both tests. As the thickness of the blade decreases the deflections and stresses increase. Different numerical deflections from the CAE simulation and the experimental 3D printed blade are collected and a failure pattern along the blade is confirmed.  

For low wind speeds approximated in Erath county, data from mathematical and CAE simulations was collected and analyzed to design a blade in the iteration process with maximum power output.  For safety validation, various methods including simulated analysis and experimental simulations are implemented to determine the stresses and deflections that lead to failures.

Presenting Author: Silverio Vazquez Ruiz Tarleton State University

Authors:

Silverio Vazquez Ruiz Tarleton State University
William Flores Tarleton State University
Hoe-Gil Lee Tarleton State University