Numerical investigation of wind turbine blade materials and airfoil profiles to extract maximum wind energy

Abstract

In order to fulfill the rising demand for power, wind energy will take the lead in the energy mix in the foreseeable future. To increase wind power generation, selection of the proper airfoil profile and material of wind turbine blade is a pivotal measure. This paper investigates a horizontal axis wind turbine under various boundary conditions from the aforementioned perspectives by using two software packages named Ansys Fluent and Ansys Static Structural (both of which fall under the aegis of Ansys Workbench). After analyzing with the help of Ansys Fluent, this paper determines NACA 4412 as the optimal airfoil profile among three primarily considered airfoils: NACA 2412, NACA 4412, and NACA 0012 due to the maximum coefficient of lift, Cl = 1.654, at 15° angle of attack (α). The obtained result is validated with the result obtained by Abbott and Doenhoff from NASA, and the percentage of error estimated is 1.47%. This paper also deals with finding the best reinforcements and composite materials among E-glass, S-glass, Carbon Fiber, Carbon Nanotube, Kevlar 49, and Epoxy Carbon UD. After comparing among physical properties: total deformation, equivalent von-Mises stress, maximum shear stress, and strain energy, in Ansys Static Structural package, Carbon nanotube is suggested as the best reinforcement material for making wind turbine blades due to its lowest total deformation and strain energy of 2.1608E-05 m and 9.127E-07 J, respectively. However, the second-best values of measured all four properties are found in Kevlar 49, which is also found as a viable alternative of Carbon nanotube when higher installation costs are a severe concern.

Keywords

• wind turbine
• naca 0012
• naca 2412
• naca 4412
• airfoil
• composite material
• carbon nanotube