An optimal design method of swept blades for HAWTs

作者:Ding, Yonggang; Zhang, Xing*
来源:Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy, 2016, 8(4): 043303.
DOI:10.1063/1.4961588

摘要

This paper introduces an optimal design method of swept blades for Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines, which comprehensively takes both annual energy production (AEP) and blade root loads into account. The start position of sweep curve, tip sweep, and the first-order derivative of the sweep curve at tip are design variables, Maximum AEP and minimum blade root loads are optimization objectives; meanwhile, non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II is applied to find the optimal result. The sweep curve is modeled by a three order polynomial, while power coefficient CP and AEP are calculated by blade element and momentum method, and blade root loads are evaluated by GH Bladed. A sweep curve design case is demonstrated in this paper. AEP, extreme and damage equivalent load (DEL) of blade root My of the optimal result, is evaluated. By adding the backward sweep curve to the baseline blade, AEP is increased by 1.34%, My extreme load is significantly dropped, Mx extreme load is almost the same as the baseline, while Mz extreme load is increased in low wind speed. Furthermore, all of the DELs of Mx, My, and Mz are reduced except at the wind speed range near rated wind speed. This was due to the same controller parameter as the baseline. Published by AIP Publishing.