Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Integrated aero-structural optimization design of pre-bend wind turbine blades

  • Published:
Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the optimization design of a pre-bend wind turbine blade, there is a coupling relationship between blade aerodynamic shape and structural layup. The evaluation index of a wind turbine blade not only shows on conventional ones, such as Annual energy production (AEP), cost, and quality, but also includes the size of the loads on the hub or tower. Hence, the design of pre-bend wind turbine blades is a true multi-objective engineering task. To make the integrative optimization design of the pre-bend blade, new methods for the blade’s pre-bend profile design and structural analysis for the blade sections were presented, under dangerous working conditions, and considering the fundamental control characteristics of the wind turbine, an integrated aerodynamic-structural design technique for pre-bend blades was developed based on the Multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm (MOPSO). By using the optimization method, a three-dimensional Pareto-optimal set, which can satisfy different matching requirements from overall design of a wind turbine, was obtained. The most suitable solution was chosen from the Pareto-optimal set and compared with the original 1.5 MW blade. The results show that the optimized blade have better performance in every aspect, which verifies the feasibility of this new method for the design of pre-bend wind turbine blades.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. D. Vucina, I. Marinic-Kragic and Z. Milas, Numerical models for robust shape optimization of wind turbine blades, Renewable Energy, 87 (2016) 849–862.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. X. Shen, J.-G. Chen and X.-C. Zhu, Multi-objective optimization of wind turbine blades using lifting surface method, Energy, 90 (2015) 1111–1121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. P. Fuglsang and H. A. Madsen, Optimization method for wind turbine rotors, Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 80 (1999) 191–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. NWTC Information Portal (HARP_Opt), https://nwtc.nrel. gov/HARP_Opt. Colorado, USA (2015).

  5. W. Xudong, W. Z. Shen, W. J. Zhu and J. N. Sorensen, C,J. Shape optimization of wind turbine blades, Wind Energy, 12 (8) (2009) 781–803.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. T. D. Grifith and T. D. Ashwill, The sandia 100-m all-glass baseline wind turbine blade, Sandia report, SAND2011-3779, USA (2004).

    Google Scholar 

  7. T. Ashuri et al., Multidis-plinary design optimization of offshore wind turbines for minimum levelized cost of energy, Renewable Energy, 68 (2014) 893–905.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. R. W. Vesel and J. J. McNamara, Performance enhancement and load reduction of a 5 MW wind turbine blade, Renew Energy, 66 (2014) 391–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. A. Chehouri, R. Younes and A. Ilinca, Review of performance optimization techniques applied to wind turbines, Applied Energy, 142 (2015) 366–388.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. C. Xin, Z. Jie and P. Pan, The best shape design of horizontal axis wind turbine blade, Engineering Mechanics, 30 (2) (2013) 477–480.

    Google Scholar 

  11. J. Chen, Q. Wang, W. Z. Shen, X. Pang, S. Li and X. Guo, Structural optimization study of composite wind turbine blade, Materials & Design, 46 (2013) 247–255.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. G. R. Fischer and T. Kipouros and A. M. Savill, Multiobjective optimization of horizontal axis wind turbine structure and energy production using aerofoil and blade properties as design variables, Renewable Energy, 62 (2014) 506–515.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. L. Germanischer, Guideline for the certification of wind turbines, Germany (2010).

    Google Scholar 

  14. O. A. Bauchau and J. I. Craig, Structural analysis with applications to aerospace structures, Springer Publishing Company, New York, USA (2009).

    Google Scholar 

  15. G. S. Bir, User’s Guide to PreComp, NREL/TP-500-38929, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Colorado, USA (2006).

    Google Scholar 

  16. C. R. Raquel and P. C. Naval, An effective use of crowding distance in multi-objective particle swarm optimization, Proceedings of the 2005 conference on Genetic and evolutionary computation, ACM of USA (2005) 257–264.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  17. Y. Shi and R. C. Eberhart, A modified particle swarm optimizer, Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Evolutionary Computation, IEEE, Piscataway, NJ, USA (1998) 69–73.

    Google Scholar 

  18. A. D. Wright, Modern control design for flexible wind turbines, NREL/TP-500-35816, Colorado, USA (2004).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  19. J. Jonkman, S. Butterfield, W. Musial and G. Scott, Definition of a 5 MW reference wind turbine for offshore system development, NREL/TP-500-38060, Colorado, USA (2009).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  20. C. Zhu, S. Chen, C. Song, H. Liu, H. Bai and F. Ma, Dynamic analysis of a megawatt wind turbine drive train, J. of Mechanical Science and Technology, 29 (5) (2015) 1913–1919.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. J. W. Han, J. S. Nam, Y. J. Park, G. H. Lee and Y. Y. Nam, An experimental study on the performance and fatigue life of pitch bearing for wind turbine, J. of Mechanical Science and Technology, 29 (5) (2015) 1963–1971.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical Science & Engineering, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450007, China

    Xiaofeng Guo, Xiaoli Fu & Huichao Shang

  2. State Key Laboratory of Mechanical Transmission, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China

    Jin Chen

Authors
  1. Xiaofeng Guo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xiaoli Fu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Huichao Shang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jin Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiaofeng Guo.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Beomkeun Kim

Xiaofeng Guo received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Chongqing University in 2015. He is a Lecturer in the School of Mechanical Science & Engineering at Zhongyuan University of Technology.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Guo, X., Fu, X., Shang, H. et al. Integrated aero-structural optimization design of pre-bend wind turbine blades. J Mech Sci Technol 30, 5103–5113 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-016-1028-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-016-1028-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation