|
Title:
|
|
Usage of Numerical Optimization in Wind Turbine Airfoil Design
|
|
|
|
Author(s):
|
|
|
|
|
|
Published by:
|
Publication date:
|
|
ECN
Wind Energy
|
12-7-2010
|
|
|
|
ECN report number:
|
Document type:
|
|
ECN-M--10-048
|
Conference Paper
|
|
|
|
Number of pages:
|
Full text:
|
|
19
|
Download PDF
|
Presented at: 28th AIAA Applied Aerodynamics Conference, Chicago, USA, 28 juni 2010-1 juli 2010.
Abstract:
One important key element in the aerodynamic design of wind turbines is the use of
specially tailored airfoils to increase the ratio of energy capture to the loading and thereby to
reduce cost of energy. This work is focused on the design of wind turbine airfoil by using
numerical optimization. Firstly, the requirements for this class of airfoils are illustrated and
discussed in order to have an exhaustive outline of the complexity of the problem. Then, the
optimization approach is presented; a gradient based algorithm is used, coupled with
RFOIL solver and a composite Bezier geometrical parameterization. A particularly sensitive
point is the choice and implementation of constraints; in order to formalize in the most
complete and effective way the design requirements, the effects of activating specific
constraints are discussed. Finally, a numerical example regarding the design of a high
efficiency airfoil for the outer part of a blade is illustrated and the results are compared with
existing wind turbine airfoils.
Back to List