Multi-Objective Aerodynamic and Structural Optimization of Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbine Blades

Jie Zhu, Xin Cai and Rongrong Gu
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Jie Zhu: College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing 314001, China
Xin Cai: College of Mechanics and Materials, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Rongrong Gu: Architecture Engineering Institute, Jinling Institute of Technology, Nanjing 211169, China

Energies, 2017, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-18

Abstract: A procedure based on MATLAB combined with ANSYS is presented and utilized for the multi-objective aerodynamic and structural optimization of horizontal-axis wind turbine (HAWT) blades. In order to minimize the cost of energy (COE) and improve the overall performance of the blades, materials of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) combined with glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) are applied. The maximum annual energy production (AEP), the minimum blade mass and the minimum blade cost are taken as three objectives. Main aerodynamic and structural characteristics of the blades are employed as design variables. Various design requirements including strain, deflection, vibration and buckling limits are taken into account as constraints. To evaluate the aerodynamic performances and the structural behaviors, the blade element momentum (BEM) theory and the finite element method (FEM) are applied in the procedure. Moreover, the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA) II, which constitutes the core of the procedure, is adapted for the multi-objective optimization of the blades. To prove the efficiency and reliability of the procedure, a commercial 1.5 MW HAWT blade is used as a case study, and a set of trade-off solutions is obtained. Compared with the original scheme, the optimization results show great improvements for the overall performance of the blade.

Keywords: multi-objective optimization; horizontal axis wind turbine; wind energy; blade mass; finite element method (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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