skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Peak power and blade loads on stall-regulated rotors as influenced by different airfoil families

Abstract

At the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI), new airfoils have been developed to help improve the performance and economics of horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTS). The objective of this study was to compare the performance characteristics of one of these airfoil families to other commonly used airfoil series for a typical three-bladed, stall-regulated HAWT. The traditional airfoil series chosen for comparison with SERI's new thin airfoil family were the NACA 23XXX, NACA 44XX, and NASA LS(1). The Micon 110 wind turbine was chosen because it is a typical three-bladed, stall-regulated rigid rotor system. The performance characteristics of the different airfoil series were derived analytically using the Eppler airfoil design code in the analysis mode. On a relative basis, this approach to comparing airfoils was considered more accurate than using airfoil performance characteristics based on wind-tunnel test data. After generating the performance characteristics for each airfoil series, the subsequent rotor performance and blade loads were calculated using SERI's PROPSH computer code. Resulting annual energy output, which is dependent on the wind-speed distribution, was calculated using SERI's Systems Engineering and Analysis Computer Code (SEACC). The results of the study show that fixed-wing airfoils generally result in excessive peak power for stall regulated, rigidmore » rotors. By operating the wind turbine at a less desirable blade pitch angle, peak power can be reduced at the expense of higher mean blade loads and lower annual energy output. In contrast, the thin airfoil family was designed to reduce peak power at optimum blade pitch to minimize blade loads and maximize annual energy output. 7 refs., 12 figs.« less

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
6832970
Report Number(s):
SERI/TP-217-3334; CONF-8806205-1
ON: DE88001190
DOE Contract Number:  
AC02-83CH10093
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: AWEA/RETSIE symposium, Santa Clara, CA, USA, 7 Jun 1988; Other Information: Paper copy only, copy does not permit microfiche production
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
17 WIND ENERGY; HORIZONTAL AXIS TURBINES; TURBINE BLADES; PERFORMANCE; AIRFOILS; NUMERICAL DATA; P CODES; ROTORS; WIND LOADS; WIND TUNNELS; COMPUTER CODES; DATA; DYNAMIC LOADS; INFORMATION; MACHINERY; TUNNELS; TURBINES; TURBOMACHINERY; UNDERGROUND FACILITIES; WIND TURBINES; 170602* - Wind Energy Engineering- Turbine Design & Operation

Citation Formats

Tangler, J L, and Tu, P K.C. Peak power and blade loads on stall-regulated rotors as influenced by different airfoil families. United States: N. p., 1988. Web.
Tangler, J L, & Tu, P K.C. Peak power and blade loads on stall-regulated rotors as influenced by different airfoil families. United States.
Tangler, J L, and Tu, P K.C. 1988. "Peak power and blade loads on stall-regulated rotors as influenced by different airfoil families". United States.
@article{osti_6832970,
title = {Peak power and blade loads on stall-regulated rotors as influenced by different airfoil families},
author = {Tangler, J L and Tu, P K.C.},
abstractNote = {At the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI), new airfoils have been developed to help improve the performance and economics of horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTS). The objective of this study was to compare the performance characteristics of one of these airfoil families to other commonly used airfoil series for a typical three-bladed, stall-regulated HAWT. The traditional airfoil series chosen for comparison with SERI's new thin airfoil family were the NACA 23XXX, NACA 44XX, and NASA LS(1). The Micon 110 wind turbine was chosen because it is a typical three-bladed, stall-regulated rigid rotor system. The performance characteristics of the different airfoil series were derived analytically using the Eppler airfoil design code in the analysis mode. On a relative basis, this approach to comparing airfoils was considered more accurate than using airfoil performance characteristics based on wind-tunnel test data. After generating the performance characteristics for each airfoil series, the subsequent rotor performance and blade loads were calculated using SERI's PROPSH computer code. Resulting annual energy output, which is dependent on the wind-speed distribution, was calculated using SERI's Systems Engineering and Analysis Computer Code (SEACC). The results of the study show that fixed-wing airfoils generally result in excessive peak power for stall regulated, rigid rotors. By operating the wind turbine at a less desirable blade pitch angle, peak power can be reduced at the expense of higher mean blade loads and lower annual energy output. In contrast, the thin airfoil family was designed to reduce peak power at optimum blade pitch to minimize blade loads and maximize annual energy output. 7 refs., 12 figs.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6832970}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988},
month = {Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988}
}

Conference:
Other availability
Please see Document Availability for additional information on obtaining the full-text document. Library patrons may search WorldCat to identify libraries that hold this conference proceeding.

Save / Share: