Innovative Dual Rotor Wind Turbine Design Based on Humpback Whale Blades: Simulation Analysis

Abstract

ABSTRACT To enhance the performance of wind turbines, this study investigates the integration of two wind energy harvesting systems. An optimal wind turbine configuration has been identified by using dual rotor wind turbine (DRWT) technology with a novel blade design known as the humpback blade, which is inspired by the fins of humpback whales. This design features tubercles and ridges along the leading edge that extend over the last third of the blade's length. The innovative humpback blade design lowered the nominal angle of attack in comparison to conventional blades, which led to a significant boost in lift and a notable reduction in drag forces. This enhancement in the lift‐to‐drag ratio enabled more efficient rotation at lower wind speeds. Furthermore, single rotor turbines fitted with these blades showed improved energy extraction and decreased turbulence intensity behind the rotor, making them especially effective in DRWT setups. The results validated the benefits of the humpback blade design in dual rotor systems, where the new design enhanced the lift‐to‐drag ratio in both upwind and downwind positions, resulting in higher overall energy output than turbines with standard blades. As a result, different configurations of the DRWT have been tested and examined. The proposed configuration with a humpback rotor in the downwind position resulted in a 19 . 22 % increase in the lift‐to‐drag ratio. Similarly, employing a humpback rotor in the upwind position improved the lift‐to‐drag ratio by 9 . 26 %. These enhancements lead to greater energy extraction from DRWTs compared to those with standard blades under the same study conditions.

Keywords

• dual rotor wind turbine (DRWT)
• humpback whale blades
• solid work
• wind energy