Characterization of Aerodynamics of Small Wind Turbine Blade for Enhanced Performance and Low Cost of Energy

Hailay Kiros Kelele, Lars Frøyd, Mulu Bayray Kahsay and Torbjørn Kristian Nielsen
Additional contact information
Hailay Kiros Kelele: Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
Lars Frøyd: 4Subsea AS, Hagaløkkveien 26, 1383 Asker, Norway
Mulu Bayray Kahsay: School of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Mekelle University, Mekelle P.O. Box 231, Ethiopia
Torbjørn Kristian Nielsen: Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 21, 1-23

Abstract: During a turbine’s lifetime, minimizing the cost of power production should be the primary aim in addition to attaining high technical efficiency. Thus, this paper was aimed at enhancing the aerodynamic efficiency of a site-specific small wind turbine considering the cost of energy as one of the design parameters. The wind distribution of a specific site was employed to characterize the wind using the Weibull distribution method. The aerodynamics of a typical 5 kW wind turbine blade were investigated by implementing a blade element method (BEM) using a MATLAB code that applied the advancements and improvements with different modifications and which was validated by engaging computational fluid dynamics (Ansys-Fluent). The optimal pitch angle was then employed to further promote the performance characteristics of the blade. The cost of energy was reformulated in terms of rated power considering a cost variation of the main components that deviates with the rated power. Accordingly, the performance parameters were investigated against a varying rated power and the relative cost of energy, achieving a maximum power coefficient of 55.37% at a lower cost of energy. Moreover, annual energy production of approximately 18 MWh with a corresponding capacity factor of approximately 41% was achieved at a lower cost of energy. These findings demonstrate that the selected modelling, analysis procedures, and modifications enhance the aerodynamic performance characteristics and lower the cost of energy of the small wind turbine blade, which promotes the affordability and energy harnessing capability of small wind turbines.

Keywords: aerodynamics; small wind turbine; cost of energy; blade performance characteristics; blade element method; annual energy production; capacity factor (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: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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