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Article history: With the ever-growing concern about green and clean energy, one of the most viable options is wind
Received 23 April 2021 power. Though the concept of a micro wind turbine is not new, exploring the best blade profile that
Received in revised form 11 June 2021 would improve the performance is quite challenging. An ideal blade profile for a roof-mounted micro
Accepted 20 June 2021
wind turbine could be the one that would offer the lift at the lowest available wind velocity. This paper
Available online 1 July 2021
presents such a proposal wherein a hybrid twisted blade profile modelled out of NACA4412 and E193 air-
foils are used for the investigation. Three different profiles viz. a simple tapered blade (NACA 4412), a
Keywords:
twisted tapered blade (NACA4412) and a hybrid twisted tapered blade (Hybrid of NACA4412 and
HAWT
Wind power
E193) are considered and tested using CFD tool followed by experimental validation using a simple
Airfoil, Lift tapered blade in a wind tunnel. The test parameters included different air velocities (2 m/s to 8 m/s) at
Drag different angles of attack (10° to + 10°). The results indicate that the hybrid profile gives superior lift
Hybrid Blade coupled with better structural stability and hydrodynamic power.
Ó 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Selection and Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the Global Conference on
Recent Advances in Sustainable Materials 2021.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2021.06.288
2214-7853/Ó 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Selection and Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the Global Conference on Recent Advances in Sustainable Materials 2021.
R.U. Gaonkar and R.N. Hegde Materials Today: Proceedings 49 (2022) 1200–1209
Nomenclature
Ρ Density of Air, kg/m3 p1 Free stream static pressure measured by the Pitot-static
V Velocity of air, m/s probe, N/m2
D Cord Length = 0.150 m po Free stream total pressure measured by the Pitot-static
Μ Dynamic viscosity of air, 1.7 10-5 Ns/m2 probe, N/m2
pi Local Static pressure values measured around the cylin- h manometer liquid column height Dynamic Pressure, m
der, N/m2
erature [5-7]. Ronit k. Singh et al. [8] experimented with the wind makes such an attempt and uses the concept of a hybrid profile
tunnel with AF300 airfoil of a HAWT at 38000, 75000, 128000, viz. NACA 4412 and Eppler E193, for the investigation on the per-
205,000 Reynolds number, for better start-up and low wind speed formance and viability of using it for a roof-mounted wind turbine.
performance. At different Reynolds number, the maximum lift
coefficients were 1.72, 1.81 and 1.86 at14-degrees stall angle.
Emmanuel Yeboah Osei et al. [9] tested three airfoils (EYO7-8,
EYO8-8, and EYO9-8) the experimental validation was satisfied 1.1. Airfoil selection
with the old existing low Reynolds number airfoil. They opined
that the proposed airfoils are suitable for the wind turbine with Modern HAWT blades are derived from airfoil ‘families’ (Hansen
the configurations giving the maximum power coefficient. The and Butter field, 1993) with the blade tip using a thin airfoil, for the
contributions of Ozgepalot et al. [10], Justin Winslow et al. [11], high lift to drag ratio, and the root region using a thick version of
Navin Prasad E et al. [12] are also significant and noteworthy. Neel the same airfoil for structural support. However, a hybrid version
S. Patel et al. [13] in their investigative study used conservation of of this could be advantageous at times. Typical Reynolds numbers
angular momentum and theory of aerodynamic forces to optimize found in wind turbine operation are in the range of 500 000 and 10
the pitch angle and chord length leading to maximum blade effi- million. For the present research, a hybrid combination of NACA
ciency. Xinzi Tanga et al. [14] proposed a mathematical model 4412 and Eppler E193 profiles was used for the reasons mentioned
for a small HAWT to determine the blade chord and twist angle Figs. 1 and 2 show the NACA 4412 and E193 airfoils, respectively.
distribution along the blade span. They studied the effect of Rey- The NACA 4412 (Fig. 1) airfoil has a maximum camber of 2%
nolds number, tip and hub effects and drag effects in the design located 40% (0.4 chords) from the leading edge with a maximum
optimization. A thorough literature survey points out that further thickness of 12% of the chord. Four-digit series airfoil by default
scope exists in blade design and profile development for a small has a maximum thickness at 30% of the chord (0.3 Chord) from
HAWT that could run even at lower wind velocity. This paper the leading edge [15].
Fig. 1. Basic blade profiles used for Hybrid Tapered Twisted Blade.
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R.U. Gaonkar and R.N. Hegde Materials Today: Proceedings 49 (2022) 1200–1209
1 2
p0 p1 ¼ qV ð1Þ
2
Substituting, p = qgh in equation (1) and on simplification,
2ðp0 p1 Þ pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
¼ V 2 ) V ¼ 3:61 h0 h1 ð2Þ
q
The density of air at Mangaluru is taken as 1.225 kg/m3. The
specific gravity of alcohol is 0.8.
qVD
Re ¼ ð3Þ
l
The corresponding values of Re at flow velocity 2 m/s are 31,056
and 34,108 respectively based on aerofoil width of 0.25 m (CFD)
Fig. 2. The free body diagram of a representative hybrid air foil. and 0.225 m characteristic length (Experimental). Similarly, at
8 m/s the respective values of Re are 1,24,766 and 1,36,432. But
for CFD analysis purpose Re of 3x105 is taken which covers both
2. Data reduction the above ranges.
The following relations are used to find the aerodynamic coeffi- 2.2. Co-efficient of lift and drag:
cients [5].
Velocity Normal co-efficient,
For Multi-tube Manometer,
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R.U. Gaonkar and R.N. Hegde Materials Today: Proceedings 49 (2022) 1200–1209
Z
1 X 2.3. Torque
Cn ¼ C p; C pu d ð4Þ
0 C
The thrust coefficient is another important dimensionless num-
Lift Coefficient; C L ¼ C n cosa ð5Þ ber in wind turbine aerodynamics and is given by,
T
Drag Co efficient; C D ¼ C n sina ð6Þ CT ¼ ð7Þ
1=2qAV 2
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R.U. Gaonkar and R.N. Hegde Materials Today: Proceedings 49 (2022) 1200–1209
Fig. 9. 3-D Model of (a) Simple tapered blade profile (b) Tapered twisted blade profile (c) Hybrid tapered twisted blade profile.
Fig. 10. Domain Mesh and Domain Parameter of the Hybrid blade.
The maximum torque coefficient of 0.0158 was obtained for a ables are non-dimensionalized in a similar way. The formula for lift
wind velocity of 8 m/s and from the Cm v/s alpha curve which and drag is given below.
was used to estimate the torque for various blade profiles.
L
The force vector is not straightforward, as stated earlier there CL ¼ ð8Þ
are two types of aerodynamic forces, lift and drag. Accordingly, 1=2qAW 2
there are two non-dimensional parameters. However, both vari-
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R.U. Gaonkar and R.N. Hegde Materials Today: Proceedings 49 (2022) 1200–1209
Pout ¼ T x ð11Þ
The free body diagram of a representative hybrid air foil is
shown in Fig. 2.
Where ‘U’ is the rotational velocity in radians per second. Head generated by the multi tube manometer is the only
The aerodynamic power parameter measured in the wind tunnel. The velocity and pressure
Aerodynamic power is the main factor for wind turbines, and it are the derived parameters or secondary parameters. While pres-
defines how efficient is the wind turbine in converting the energy sure p = f (q, g, h) and velocity V = f (g, h), the following statistical
from the wind to electricity. The speed of air flowing over the tip is data are considered to measure the uncertainty in pressure and
Fig. 12. Pressure and velocity volume rendering for the HTB at 0° AOA(a), (b) and + 10° AOA (c), (d).
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R.U. Gaonkar and R.N. Hegde Materials Today: Proceedings 49 (2022) 1200–1209
Fig. 13. Pressure and velocity volume rendering for the HTB at 10° AOA.
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R.U. Gaonkar and R.N. Hegde Materials Today: Proceedings 49 (2022) 1200–1209
Fig. 15. Stress and strain distribution over Hybrid tapered twisted wind turbine blade.
length in each section under the design point. The method turbine blade is more efficient compared to tapered twisted and
employed in the present study for the aerofoil design is known the simple tapered wind turbine blade profiles.
as the ‘direct designing method’ which involves designing section
geometry and calculating aerofoils performance. The validation of 3.2. CFD analytical results
the numerically analysed result is done with the experimental data
obtained from testing the simple tapered blade profile in a wind 3.2.1. 3D modeling
tunnel. Fig. 4 shows the three different blade profile configurations Using CATIA V5 R20 software the 3-d models of the three blades
tested in a wind tunnel viz. a simple tapered blade (STB) a twisted are prepared as shown in Fig. 9. Initially, the coordinates of the air-
tapered blade (TTB) and the hybrid tapered twisted blade (HTB). foil are downloaded to the system. CATIA V5 R20 has a workbench
Fig. 5 shows the variation of torque at different angular veloci- called ‘wireframe and surface design’ where the coordinates of the
ties for the three blade configurations. The HTB gives a maximum airfoils are imported. The workbench supports creating the surface
torque of 0.221 Nm for + 10° AOA and 0.148 Nm for 10° AOA. of the blade and the complete body of the blade is made. However,
Similarly, for the same testing conditions, TTB and STB profiles the vector plots of the HTB only are presented in the forthcoming
generate corresponding torques of 0.156 Nm for + 10° AOA and discussion.
0.132Nm for 10° AOA and 0.075Nm for + 10° AOA and 0.106
Nm for 10° AOA. Thus, the HTB has distinct advantage of around
two-fold increase in torque at + 10° AOA. 3.2.1.1. Domain and mesh parameter. The mesh of the hybrid blade
The corresponding aerodynamic power advantage by using the profile model is made up of triangular mesh elements. Fig. 10(a)
HTB profile is obvious as seen from Fig. 6, about 34% increased shows the triangular mesh of the wind turbine blade, automati-
aerodynamic power compared to STB at + 10° AOA and 42.61% cally generated to ensure that both the face and the volume cen-
10° AOA. However, the aerodynamic power is almost 70% more troid locations are well defined [16,17]. One side of the blade is
with + 10° AOA. Thus, the HTB profile is preferable even at lower attached to a rectangular domain and the leading edge of the blade
wind velocities. is considered as inlet and the trailing edge as an outlet. Fig. 10(b)
Figs. 7 and 8 show a comparative variation of coefficient of lift shows the domain parameter and domain direction on the aerofoil
and drag for + 10° and 10° angle of attack for HTB, TTB and STB model. To ensure the reliability of the analysis a validation is done
profiles. The lift coefficients are respectively 0.275, 0.175, 0.03 using the STB profile, as shown in Fig. 11. The analysis is valid
for + 10° AOA and 0.9,0.5 and 0.325 for 10° AOA. However, the without much scope for errors.
accompanied drag is also higher for HTB, TTB and STB profiles in
the same order, as seen in Fig. 8. 3.2.1.2. Pressure-Volume and velocity rendering. The following
The comparison of these three wind turbine blades vis-à-vis Figs. 12 and 13 show the pressure–volume and velocity volume
with their performance shows that the hybrid taper twisted wind rendering of the HTB, at the minimum and maximum inlet veloci-
ties (2 m/s and 8 m/s) in the tested range. The blade upper surface
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R.U. Gaonkar and R.N. Hegde Materials Today: Proceedings 49 (2022) 1200–1209
Fig. 16. Stress and strain distribution over Tapered twisted wind turbine blade.
is exposed to lower pressure while the higher pressure is exerted two profiles. The strain energy, equivalent stress and strain elastic
on the blade lower surface, creating the lift. The pressure difference are minimum at the blade tip, whereas the deformation is mini-
created at the lower and upper surface of the blade generates lift mum at the base of the blade profile, suggesting better capability
which in turn rotates the rotor. Two specific test conditions are of the blade against any bending moment. The static structural
taken i.e., the blade is placed at an angle of + 10° and 10° angle approach on the three-wind turbine blade shows that there is a
of attack. maximum total deformation of 0.73 mm for HTB, 0.42 mm for
The flow visualization on the wind tunnel as shown in Fig. 14 TTB and 0.53 mm for STB respectively. Also, the stress distribution
gives evidence that the proposed HTB profile flow is attached to is more uniform and minimum in the case of the HTB profile, with
the blade surface at different AOAs. maximum concentration being spread at the central region.
4. Conclusion
3.2.1.3. Stress analysis. To evaluate the stability of the wind turbine
blade profile to withstand high-velocity stress developed, an anal-
In this work, the viability of a hybrid tapered twisted blade
ysis of hybrid tapered twisted, tapered twisted and simple tapered
designed for a horizontal axis wind turbine that could rotate at a
blades were done. The corresponding stress–strain distribution is
low start up wind speed of 2 m/s is investigated. An HTB profile
presented in Figs. 15 to 17. It may be observed that the equivalent
made out NACA 4412 and E193 blades were modelled and ana-
stress, strain energy and strain elastic are minimum at the blade
lyzed for lift and drag, stress and strain distribution. This model
tip, whereas the deformation is minimum at the base of the blade
was compared with NACA 4412 simple tapered and NACA 4412
profile, suggesting a stable blade against any bending moment.
twisted tapered profiles at different AOA ranging from +/-10°., at
Fig. 15 shows the stress and strain distribution over the hybrid
a low Reynolds number. The validation was done using the exper-
tapered twisted wind turbine blade.
imental values extracted for a simple tapered profile on a wind
Fig. 16 shows the stress and strain distribution over the Tapered
tunnel. Based on the analysis the following conclusions are drawn.
twisted wind turbine blade. Here also, the strain energy, equivalent
stress and strain elastic are minimum at the blade tip, whereas the
Hybrid tapered twisted blade made of NACA 4412 & E193 pro-
deformation is minimum at the base of the blade profile.
files has a good co-efficient of lift when compared with tapered
Fig. 17 shows the stress and strain distribution over a simple
twisted and simple tapered NACA 4412 wind turbine blades.
tapered wind turbine blade which looks quite similar to the other
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R.U. Gaonkar and R.N. Hegde Materials Today: Proceedings 49 (2022) 1200–1209
Fig. 17. Stress and strain distribution over a simple tapered wind turbine blade.
The blade with NACA4412 & E193 hybrid airfoil having twisted [4] M. Mohammadi, A. Mohammadi, M. Mohammadi, H.N. Minaei, Optimization of
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CRediT authorship contribution statement [8] Ronit K. Singh, M. Rafiuddin Ahmed, AsidZullah, Design of a low reynolds
number airfoil for small horizontal axis wind turbines, Renewable Energy 42
Ratan U. Gaonkar: Data curation Formal Analysis, Investiga- 2012 66-76 10.1016/j.renene.2011.09.014.
[9] Emmanuel Yeboah Osei, Richard Opoku, Albert K. Sunnu, Muyiwa S.
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