Influence of pitch, twist, and taper on a blade`s performance loss due to roughness

Journal Article · Fri Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997 · Journal of Solar Energy Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2888027· OSTI ID:538120

Tangler, J L ^[1]

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1. National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States)

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of blade geometric parameters such as pitch, twist, and taper on a blade`s sensitivity to leading edge roughness. The approach began with an evaluation of available test data of performance degradation due to roughness effects for several rotors. In addition to airfoil geometry, this evaluation suggested that a rotor`s sensitivity to roughness was also influenced by the blade geometric parameters. Parametric studies were conducted using the PROP93 computer code with wind tunnel airfoil characteristics for smooth and rough surface conditions to quantify the performance loss due to roughness for tapered and twisted blades relative to a constant-chord nontwisted blade at several blade pitch angles. The results indicate that a constant-chord nontwisted blade pitched toward stall will have the greatest losses due to roughness. The use of twist, taper, and positive blade-pitch angles all help reduce the angle-of-attack distribution along the blade for a given wind speed and the associated performance degradation due to roughness.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 538120
• Journal Information: Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, Journal Name: Journal of Solar Energy Engineering Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 119; ISSN JSEEDO; ISSN 0199-6231
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

17 WIND ENERGY
ORIENTATION
P CODES
PERFORMANCE TESTING
SURFACE CONTAMINATION
WIND TURBINES