Design and Development of Low Reynolds Number Airfoil

For Small HorizontalAxis Wind Turbine

Presented by,

12/19/2019
C.Rajasekaran
950015414012
ME Thermal Engineering
Regional Centre, Anna University
Tirunelveli.

Guided by,
Dr.S.Rajakumar M.Tech.,Ph.D..,
HOD & Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical engineering
Regional Campus Anna University
1
Tirunelveli

.
Introduction

• Wind turbines are popular energy harnessing devices that produce

electrical power derived from the wind. In contrast to larger horizontal
axis wind turbines (HAWTs) that are located in areas dictated by

12/19/2019
optimum wind conditions.
• Within the planetary boundary layer, the laminar air flow is made
turbulent and slowed down by obstacles and as a result, the turbine’s
startup behavior is affected together with its performance.
• In order to generate maximum possible power, it is necessary for small
wind turbines to have a good startup response to low wind speeds.
• Small wind turbines operating at low cut-in wind speeds to increase
power production and has been made possible through aerodynamic
optimization of the rotor blades.

2
Objective

 The objective of this project is to develop an optimized airfoil suitable

for horizontal axis wind turbine at low wind region.

12/19/2019
 To improve the performance of wind turbine by considering various
parameters.

 The chord and twist distribution of blade are to be optimized for low wind
conditions.

 A 2 kW of wind turbine blade model is to be designed and fabricated for

low wind region. The structural and aerodynamic behavior of wind
turbine are to be analyzed for low wind velocity conditions.
3
 Airfoil terminologies

Camber = distance between mean camber line (mid-point of airfoil)

and the chord line (straight line from leading edge to trailing edge)
Thickness = distance between upper and lower surfaces (measured
perpendicular to chord line)
Span = length of airfoil normal to the cross-section
List of airfoils

 SG6040

12/19/2019
 s833nr

 s834nr

5
Airfoil Geometry

• Airfoils are the basic elements (shapes) in the wind turbine blade
cross sections, which convert the kinetic energy in wind to

12/19/2019
mechanical energy effectively.
• Aerodynamic behavior such as lift and drag characteristics changes
due to angle of attack and Reynolds number. Appropriate selection of
Reynolds number would improve the annual energy production. In
this work three airfoils SG6040, S833nr and S834nr are considered
for analysis.

6
Selection of Reynolds number

 Based on literature survey paper 4 variation of Reynolds number are

used for analysis and selected Reynolds number within the range

12/19/2019
100000 to 150000.

7
 Blade Design

Power = 2 kW
Atmospheric density = 1.255 kg/m³

12/19/2019
Power coefficient = 0.45
Assuming flow velocity = 9m/s

2000 = 0.48 × 0.5 × 1.255 × A × V³

Flow velocity = 9 m/s
2000 = 0.45 × 0.5 × 1.255 × A × 9³
r = 1.779m
8
Chord length

• Calculation for s833nr airfoil

r =0.4 cl =1.11 Tip speed ratio(λ) = 7

12/19/2019
Local tip speed ratio(λr)=1.574.

C(r) =(16×3.14)/(9×3×7×1.574)

C(r) = 0.169 m
9
Twist calculation (β)

β= ɸ-α

12/19/2019
ɸ=tan-1(2/3λr)
α=angle of attack = 13˚
λr= (X × r)/R
= (7×0.4)/1.779
= 1.57
ɸ= tan -12/(3×1.57)
ɸ= 22.95˚
β = 22.95˚-13˚
β = 9.95˚ 10
 Values for airfoil length (0 to 1.8)

Radius(r) (m) Blade C(r) (m) Twist (β) Speed (rpm)

length(R) (m) (˚)

12/19/2019
0 1.779 338.342
0.2 1.779 338.342
0.4 1.779 0.168 9.956 338.342
0.6 1.779 0.1125 2.768 338.342
0.8 1.779 0.0844 -1.042 338.342
1.0 1.779 0.0675 -3.383 338.342
1.2 1.779 0.0562 -4.963 338.342
1.4 1.779 0.0482 -6.099 338.342
1.6 1.779 0.0422 -6.955 338.342 11
1.8 1.779 0.0375 -7.622 338.342
Airfoil Analysis

• Airfoils for horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWT) are intended for
low angle of attack, where the lift coefficient is high and drag

12/19/2019
coefficient are legitimately small.
• The lift coefficient with an angle of attack for airfoil series - SG
6040, S833nr and S834nr at Reynolds number 100000,125000 and
150000.
• The maximum lift coefficient obtained at an angle of attack is in
between 10o to 15o.The lift on an airfoil is primarily depends on its
angle of attack and shape.
• When positioned at an appropriate angle, the airfoil deflects the
advancing air, resulting in a force on the airfoil in the direction
opposite to the deflection
12
Graph plotted between coefficient of lift and angle of attack

12/19/2019
13
Graph plotted between power coefficient and TSR

• The value of the tip speed ratio (λ) lies between 0 to7 and there will
be an optimum value at λ=7, for which the coefficient of power

12/19/2019
reaches the maximum point of 0.34.
• The Power coefficient with Tip speed ratio for airfoil series - SG
6040, S833nr and S834nr at Reynolds number 100000,125000 and
150000.

14
Power coefficient and Tip speed ratio for Reynolds number
100000
Power coefficient and Tip speed ratio for Reynolds number 125000.

12/19/2019
Power coefficient and Tip 15
speed ratio for Reynolds
number 150000
Power And Wind Speed Relations

• The power curve of a wind turbine indicates that variation of power

coefficient with respect to Tip speed ratio large the electrical power
output will be for the turbine at different wind speeds.

12/19/2019
• The contour diagram expressing the relation between power and
wind velocity is shown below. The Power with Wind velocity lies
between 1m/s to 9 m/s for airfoil series - SG 6040, S833nr and
S834nr at Reynolds number 100000,125000 and 150000.
• Its clearly states that the power reaches its maximum value of
1800W at constant wind velocity 9 m/s.

16
 Power and Wind velocity for
Reynolds number 100000

12/19/2019
Power and Wind velocity for
Reynolds number 125000

17
Power and Wind velocity for Reynolds number 150000

12/19/2019
18
Result and Discussion

• The performance of airfoil series SG6040,NREL S833 and NREL S834 is

been tabulated against Reynolds no 100000,125000 and 150000 is been

12/19/2019
tabulated shown below
Reynolds number at 100000

Airfoil Power Coefficient of Coefficient of Angle of Coefficient of

(W) lift drag attack power

SG6040 1760 1.31 0.37 15 0.32

NREL S833 1350 1.11 0.36 13 0.24

NREL S834 1400 1.05 0.35 12 0.25

19
 Reynolds number at 125000

Airfoil Power Coefficient of Coefficient of Angle of Coefficient of

(W) lift drag attack power

SG604 1800 1.31 0.36 15 0.33

NREL S833 1420 1.11 0.35 13 0.26
NREL S834 1430 1.05 0.35 12 0.26

12/19/2019
Reynolds number at 150000

Airfoil Power Coefficient of Coefficient of Angle of Coefficient of

(W) lift drag attack power

SG6040 1840 1.31 0.36 15 0.33

NREL S833 1470 1.11 0.35 13 0.26

NREL S834 1460 1.05 0.34 12 0.26

20
 SG6040

12/19/2019
21
 S833nr

12/19/2019
22
 S834nr

12/19/2019
23
Fluent analysis- Geometrical view

12/19/2019
24
 Mesh

12/19/2019
25
Iterations curve

12/19/2019
26
Velocity in Stn frame Contour diagram

12/19/2019
27
Velocity Streamline

12/19/2019
28
Conclusion

 In this project the simulation analysis of airfoil model has been done
to comprehend the performance of an airfoil under the change in

12/19/2019
Reynolds number.
 Based on the analysis, it is found that the small horizontal axis wind
turbine attains its maximum power output at low Reynolds number
and low wind region.
 Comparing the three Reynolds numbers 100000,125000 and 150000
the maximum power output is pragmatic in Reynolds number
150000.
 The maximum power yield is 1840 W and also coefficient of power
is higher compared to other Reynolds number.

29
Future work

 The 3D printing of different series of airfoil are to be designed.

12/19/2019
 The designed 3D printed airfoil will be fabricated by using composite
material.
 The result will be investigated experimentally.

30
References
1. Giguere P and Selig M S(1998) New Airfoils for Small Horizontal Axis Wind
Turbines. Vol 120, pp.108-114.
2. Haseeb Shah, Nikesh Bhattarai, Sathyajith mathew and Chee Ming Lim
(2012).Low Reynolds Number Airfoil for Small Horizontal Axis Wind
Turbine Blades. Vol 24, pp.305-701.

12/19/2019
3. Michael S. Selig and James J. Guglielmo (1997). High-Lift Low Reynolds
Number Airfoil Design. Vol 34, pp.72-79.
4. Ronit K. Singh, Rafiuddin Ahmed. M, Mohammad Asid Zullah and Young-

Phase I
Ho Lee (2011). Experimental analysis of a low Reynolds number airfoil for
small horizontal axis wind turbines. Vol 42, pp.66-76.
5. Pathike. P, Katpradit.T, Terdtoon, T and Sakulchangsatjatai.P(2013).Small
Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbine Blade for Low Wind Speed Operation. Vol 16,
No 4, pp.345-351.
6. Peter J. Schubel And Richard J. Crossley (2012).Wind Turbine Blade
Design. Vol 5, pp.3425-3449.
7. Magedi Moh. M. Saad and Norzelawati Asmuin(2014).Comparison of
Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines and Vertical Axis Wind Turbines. Vol 04,
pp.27-30.
31
 12/19/2019
Thank you

32