Aerodynamic Analysis Based on Materials and Shapes of Different Types of Wind Turbine Blades for Wind Energy Production Using Fast and MATLAB Simulink

Abstract

In this work, it is analyzed the aerodynamic response of some wind turbine blades in terms of the Power Coefficient (Cp). The aim of this experiment is test aerodynamic models of different blades and also measure how these aspects affect the power generation of a Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG). In order to determine the efficiency, the Cp of the entire system has been measured. This study is based on the evaluation of different structural blade materials and airfoils. In order to establish the mathematical models, the experiments have been performed using MATLAB-Simulink and the Fatigue, Aerodynamics, Structures and Turbulence program of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (FAST). Moreover, the model has been subjected to variable wind conditions and perturbations. The type of wind turbines have been limited to a three-bladed horizontal axis with DFIG generator. The size of the blades are 33.25 m long. The blades models are: WindPact 1.5 MW v1.3, SNL100-00 and pseudoSERI8. In addition, the tested materials are: aluminum 2014T6, Ochroma pyramidale wood also known as balsa wood and composite materials. As a result of the analysis, it could be determined that within the tested samples, the most efficient performance in terms of aerodynamic is the pseudoSERI8 made with composite materials. It is important to emphasize that it also presented a similar performance with the Aluminum 2014T6 generating an output power of approximately 0.6 MW allowing the wind turbine to respond efficiently.