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Title:
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Usage of Numerical Optimization in Wind Turbine Airfoil Design
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Author(s):
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Published by:
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Publication date:
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ECN
Wind Energy
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17-2-2011
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ECN report number:
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Document type:
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ECN-W--11-005
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Article (scientific)
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Number of pages:
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10
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Published in: Journal of Aircraft (AIAA), , 2011, Vol.Vol. 48, No. 1, p.248-255.
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 the cost of energy. This work is focused on the design of a wind turbine airfoil by using numerical optimization. First, 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 Bézier geometrical parameterization. A particularly sensitive point is the choice and implementation of constraints; to formalize the design requirements in the most complete and effective way, 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.
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