Western Sydney University: Wind Turbine Blade Design Project

This project, submitted by a Master of Mechanical Engineering student at Western Sydney University, focuses on designing optimal wind turbine blades for the Australian climate. The project begins with an abstract outlining the importance of wind turbine blade design in renewable energy generation. It then explores the classification of wind turbines, comparing Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWT) and Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWT) based on wind direction, efficiency, mechanical complexity, and suitability. The project presents four design concepts, including straight horizontal blades, vertical axis blades with whale flaps, portable vertical blades, and wide horizontal blades, evaluating their advantages and disadvantages. Concept 1 is selected. The project includes calculations for power and power coefficient, as well as a discussion of the tip speed ratio. A 3D model and CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) analysis are planned to determine lift and drag forces. The final report will include an introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion, references, and an appendix.

Design optimal of wind
turbines blades for Aust

Australian climate conditions.
• Australia suffers from strong winds.
• Wind gusts.
• weather chaos: winds, snow, wild surf and rain lash Victoria, South Australia, Melbourne and
NSW.
• MPH am MPH pm City KPH am KPH pm
• 6.5 9.9 Adelaide, South Australia 10.4 15.9
• 5.0 8.9 Albury, New South Wales 8.0 14.3
• 11.9 13.5 Ballarat, Victoria 19.2 21.8
• 8.2 10.7 Bendigo, Victoria 13.2 17.3
• 7.8 12.1 Brisbane, Queensland 12.6 19.5
• 9.6 12.6 Bunbury, Western Australia 15.5 20.2
• 8.5 12.0 Cairns, Queensland 13.7 19.3
• 5.2 11.1 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 8.4 17.8
• 7.6 11.4 Darwin, Northern Territory 12.2 18.4
• 11.2 15.3 Geelong, Victoria 18.1 24.6
• 10.5 14.5 Gold Coast, Queensland 16.9 23.3
• 3.7 5.8 Gosford, New South Wales 6.0 9.3
• 9.4 11.4 Hobart, Tasmania 15.1 18.4

Classification of wind turbines
Turbines can be categorized according to.
1. Rotor axis. The direction of the rotational axis.
• The Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT). Rotational axis parallel to the
ground.
• Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWT). Axis perpendicular to wind direction.
2. Lift or drag.
• Drag types. E.g. water pump, anemometers. Move slower but have high
torques.
• Lift type. Uses aerodynamic aerofoil to create lift.

Comparison between vertical axis wind
turbines and horizontal axis wind turbine
1. Wind direction and speeds.
• HAWT. Wind flows perpendicular to blade. When wind blows at
different angles, other than 90 degrees, the turbine harvests less
wind energy. The turbines have a YAW MECHNISM to make sure that
wind blows perpendicular to the blade. Dynamic stall happens when
the wind velocity is small.
• VAWT runs well regardless of the direction of wind. Lower speeds
available.

2. Wind energy efficiency
• HAWT convert more of the wind into electricity since the turbines are usually
at higher grounds and the wind is perpendicular to blade.
• VAWT wind is captured only on the front face while the back face drags the
running part, apart from helical blades.
3. Mechanical Complexity and stress
• HAWT is complicated because of the yaw mechanism. The large velocities
associated with HAWT means large forces involved. The parts are bigger and
heavier. More stresses are thus involved. The designs are also complex. This
makes maintenance expensive.
• For VAWT, the turbines are lower to the ground. the speeds involved are low.
They do not require a yaw system. These means fewer parts thus less stress
and less expensive to maintain.

4. Suitable location
• HAWT. Suitable for wide open space. Usually unsettled land.
• VAWT, can be installed on small spaces such as roof tops, road
dividers. The vertical unit's low stature additionally makes it
reasonable for regions where wrap gets speed between structures
or over ridges.
5. Market Preference
• Large scale energy companies have chosen the HAWT. Large scale
wind energy plant is very expensive and small firms are not able to
afford thus they use VAWT.
• Small Commercial operators prefer VAWT since they are cheap to
maintain and invest on.

HAWT
VAWT

CONCEPTS
Concept 1. Straight horizontal wind turbine blade
Advantages.
• Small in size.
• Easy to assemble
• Low dynamic stall. Due
to its thinner root
section.
• Easy maintenance and
transportation du to
small size.
• Non- Noise pollutant.
Disadvantages.
• Small size equals small
power.

Concept 2, Vertical axis wind turbine with whale flaps
Advantages.
• Very low dynamic stall
because of the helix
shape
• Smooth flow of air/
almost no turbulence
at the back of the
blade.
• Occupies less space.
• Easy to transport and
install.
• No noise. Because of
the whale flaps
• High efficient.
Disadvantages.
• Complex shape to manufacture.
• Limited to plastics material only.

Concept 3. Vertical wind turbine blades, portable.
Advantages.
• Low dynamic stall.
• Small size, light and portable.
• Can be installed in small
spaces like in house gardens,
between dividers.
• Cheap since it is small in size.
• Non- noise pollutant.
• Easy to install and maintain
since it is close to the ground.
• Helix blades means even small
winds are captured and
utilized hence highly efficient.
• Unlike concept 2, it can be
made from aluminum sheet
metal.
Disadvantages
• Small power generated
• Low power generated
due to its small size.

Concept 4; wide blades for Horizontal axis wind turbine.
Advantages.
• Wide blades means
more wind is captured.
• Ease of installing
depends on the size of
the blade.
Disadvantages.
• Its dynamic stall is
higher than that of
concept 1.
• Associated with noise.
• Its efficiency is smaller
than that of concept 1Similar to concept 1 only that its
shape is not as curvy as concept 1.

Concept selection
• Concept 1 was chosen due to its advantages.