The rotor is the first element in the chain of functional elements of a wind turbine. Therefore, its aerodynamic and dynamic properties have a decisive influence on the entire system in many respects. The capability of the rotor to convert a maximum proportion to the wind energy, flowing through its swept area, into mechanical energy is obviously the direct result of its aerodynamic properties. These will determine the overall efficiency of the energy conversion in the wind turbine. To enhance the performance of wind turbine, one has to analyze the effects of variations in nomenclature of a rotor blade on the performance of wind turbine.
The present paper incorporates the analysis of primary selected blade design by the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI -8) with BEMT based simulations; five different suggested models of the rotor blade are also analyzed with same BEM based simulations, including Tip losses, 3-D corrections and Reynolds number drag correction. These six models incorporate twist optimization, chord distribution optimization, and the combination of airfoils, new designed airfoils and base model SERI-8 rotor blade. Without modifying the size of the rotor blade, different analysis is done and improved the rotor aerodynamics efficiency. Highly aerodynamics efficient new designed airfoils produce more lift and minimize the drag by avoiding the stall; it develops high-value of coefficient of lift to drag (Cl/Cd) ratio. The rated power for all models considered at 15m/s for analysis. The result suggests that the rotor power efficiency is 25.772% with SERI-8, 29.420% with the twist optimized model, 55.51% with the model with a combination of SG series and SERI series airfoils and 61.62% with new designed airfoils (SV Series) model. Respectively, efficiency is increased by 3.64%, 29.745%, and 35.84% compared to SERI-8 blade.
