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Design and Analysis of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Blade

A.J Sriganapathy1, S Sudhan 2, T. Sundarmagalingam 3, E.Nijilabinash 4, T.Siva5
1
Assistant professor, Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Mahendra institute of engineering and
technology, Tiruchengode, Namakkal. Tamilnadu, India.
2.3.4.5
UG Scholar, Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Mahendra institute of engineering and
technology, Tiruchengode, Namakkal. Tamilnadu, India.
Sri.aero87@gmail.com1, Sudhansudhan2371998@gmail.com2, Sundar51098@gmail.com3,
randynijil@gmail.com4, Sivaking921@gmail.com5
Abstract
Wind is used from a very long time as a source of electricity. Lots of efforts have been made to develop the
horizontal axis wind turbines but vertical axis wind turbines did not get much attention over the past
couple of decades. In the current era of energy crisis it has acquired more significance. Blade is the most
important component of a wind turbine which controls a wind turbine 's performance and the design of
other components that are attached to it. Current work introduces a concept for the design of a twisted
unsymmetrical blade for a small-scale vertical axis wind turbine with beam theories for analytical
modeling and a commercial program MSC NASTRAN, PATRAN for numerical modeling. The design
parameters of the blade such as solidity, aspect ratio, pressure coefficient etc. are calculated with the
goal of the 1 kW power output and the blade design was tested under extreme wind conditions where
maximum deflection and bending stress values were calculated at peak aerodynamic and centrifugal
forces values. Mainly the design considered achieving the structural strength i.e. reduction of deflections
and bending stresses. This blade design has high strength and lower material consumption to achieve the
low cost of complete wind turbine rotor assembly which actually covers over 50 percent of total wind
turbine costs.

Keywords: Wind turbine, Nastran, Unsymmetrical blade and Analysis of turbine blade.

1. Introduction The National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) is

Wind power is a form of solar power. Wind or the nation's leading testing facility for wind energy
wind power defines the mechanism by which wind technology. The goal of NWTC's research is to
is used for electricity generation. Wind turbines help the industry cut energy costs so that the wind
convert mechanical power to the kinetic energy in can complete with traditional energy sources,
the wind. Mechanical power can be transformed providing a clean, renewable alternative for the
into electricity by a generator Mechanical control energy needs of our nation. The bulk of the wind
can also be specifically used for particular tasks industry is actually dominated by horizontal axis
such as water pumping. Wind is caused by the wind turbines. Horizontal axis means the wind
uneven heating of the atmosphere by the variations turbine's rotating axis is horizontal, or parallel, to
in the surface of the earth and the earth's rotation. the ground. Horizontal axis wind turbines are the

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dominant type of turbine for big wind farms or dynamics simulation was carried out using
industrial customers. However, vertical axis ANSYS CFX. The two-dimensional analysis is not
turbines have a role in smaller or industrial wind as accurate as a full three-dimensional analysis,
applications.[1−4] The benefit of the horizontal but does allow for greatly reduced computational
axis is that it can actually generate substantially demands. The meshing setup is an essential part of
more energy from a given amount of wind. A a CFD analyze. Because the forces on the turbine
downside of turbines with horizontal axes is that blades (i.e., lift and drag forces) are guided by the
they are usually heavier and do not produce much effects of the boundary layer, the mesh around the
power in turbulent winds. Hence their location blades must be fine enough to catch these effects
plays a big part in how successful the turbine will with precision. The approximate boundary-layer
be and how much energy it will generate. Vertical thickness for a laminar flow is given by the
axis wind turbines, or VAWT, work differently, as following formula:
the turbine 's rotational axis stands vertically or ∂ = 4.91x/√Reₓ (1)
perpendicular to the ground. As previously Where ∂ is the boundary-layer thickness, is the
mentioned, turbines with vertical axes are characteristic dimension (in this case, the position
primarily used in smaller or residential along the chord of the airfoil), and Reₓ is the
installations. Wind coming from all 360 degrees Reynolds number in terms of the characteristic
drive the vertical axis turbines. In certain dimension. For turbulent boundary layers, the
situations, when the wind is blowing from top to thickness is given by:
bottom, vertical axis turbines can be powered. Due ∂ ≈ 0.382x/Reₓ⅕ (2)
to their versatility, wind turbines with vertical axes The thickness of the boundary layer on the VAWT
are thought to be ideal for installations where wind blade from the leading edge to the trailing edge
conditions are not consistent.[5−9]. was calculated shown in the Fig.1.
2. Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis
To help validate the results obtained from QBlade,
a simple two-dimensional computational fluid

Fig.1 - Boundary-layer thickness at various stream speeds

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2.1 Domain and Interface Setup ➢ Frozen rotor
ANSYS CFX allows a number of schemes for ➢ Stage
modelling the interface between the rotary and ➢ Transient rotor-stator
stationary domain shown in fig.2.. These are:

Fig.2 - CFD analysis domain setup.

2.2. Boundary Condition was sufficiently far downstream for the fluid wake
To simulate an incoming wind velocity, an to stabilize prior to exiting the simulation. The
inlet boundary condition was placed at the sides of the stationary domain were given .[3−6].a
upstream end of the stationary domain. This inlet free-slip wall condition. This allows the fluid to
has assigned a constant velocity. The opposite end move freely parallel to the wall, but requires that
of the stationary domain was assigned as an outlet, the velocity normal to the boundary be zero is
allowing flow to exit against atmospheric pressure. shown in figure.3.
The simulation has refined to ensure that the outlet

Fig.3 - Outer boundary conditions

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2.3 Solver Setup and Result multiplied by the blade length of 20 metres.
The solver was run for approximately 3 P=Tω
turbine revolutions, or at 35 RPM for 5 Where P is the power, T is Torque and ω is
seconds. All domains were given an initial angular velocity.
inlet velocity equal to that. It took the At a wind speed of 10 metres per second and a
simulation about eight hours to run. Since the rotational speed of 35 RPM, the average power
simulation is in two dimensions, the raw data output was approximately 140 kW. Applying a
per unit length is in terms of torque. To 96% efficiency to account for generator losses,
achieve the results below, the raw output was the output becomes 134 kW.

Fig.4 - Results of CFX simulation, 10 m/s wind speed

Fig.5 - Results of CFX simulation, 8 m/s wind speed

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3 Structural Analysis one-another.
In addition to operating at peak aerodynamic 3.2 Analysis and Methodology
efficiency it is important to design a VAWT This part of the report deals with the
that can withstand lift forces, drag forces and procedure and approach used for calculating
wind loads. Structural analysis was performed aeroelastic loads (briefly), blade layout for
on individual VAWT components because Finite Element Analysis ( FEA) and various
different loads were placed on each element. branches of rotor blade computer modeling
with special emphasis on Fatigue.
3.1 Blade Structural Design 3.3 Blade Analysis
Structural blade design determines A typical blade of airfoil cross-sections
the cost of manufacturing a blade, load is composed of fig.6 .. Within the blade is
bearing capacity and hence overall structural strengthened to preserve the airfoil's original
performance (in terms of reliability and shape during service. The airfoil parts belong
robustness). Extreme loading analysis (i.e. tip to the rest of the blade, and the aerodynamic
deflections and buckling) accompanied by efficiency is determined. Selecting suitable
fatigue and modal analysis is the latest state of cross-section shape, taper angle, and twist
the art for structural blade design in terms of angle plays an significant role in maintaining
criticality; In blade design process, fabric aerodynamic forces. A complete methodology
(laminate) and inter-fibre failure (static for selecting the blade geometry, profile, and
strength analysis) along with aero-elastic dimensions is described in this section when
stability (such as flutter) play a secondary role. designing it for the required power output.
Laminates consist of different ply layers of
fibers stacked in a specific direction on top of

Figure.6 - twisted blade

3.4. Load Case
The high aspect ratio straight blades of H-darrieus rotor are subjected to high values of
centrifugal forces.
FC = 3456 N - - - - - - - - - - (3)
An analysis of the resultant of the normal force and centrifugal force is made for one
blade in a revolution. As they have equal direction, their resultant is:

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FR = Fn + FC - - - - - - - - - - (4)
FR = 836.09 + 3456
FR = 4292.09 N - - - - - - - - - - (5)
3.5 Internal Structure
The internal structure is shown in fig.7 is which acting as the structural reinforcement for
conceived to obtain maximum strength with the the blade to be more efficient at resisting out-of-
least weight; The spars are the most important plane shear loads and bending moment. The
structural component of the wings, since they Blade has a chord of 0.28m; the spar is placing
carry the airloads during blade rotation. Blade at 0.112m from the leading edge of blade with
has a Box spars is placing at 40% of blade chord respect to centre position of spar.

Fig.7.- Airfoil configuration

Consider a blade as 1-Dimensional Element which as fixed of support at 0.5 and 1.5 from the
span wise distance.
Taking moment about B, we get
0.5 1.5
2.146 × 0.5× + RA× 1 = 1.5 × 2.146 ×
2 2

0.26825 + RA = 2.4142
RA = 2.146 - - - - - - (6)
1
RB = 2× 2.146 - 0.5 = 4.292 -2

RB = 2.292 - - - - - - (7)

Shear Force Diagram,

S.F at C = 0 - - - - - - (8)
S.F just on L.H.S of B = -2.146×0.5 = -1.073 KN
Shear force varies between C and B by a straight line low Shear flow just on,
L.H.S of A = 1.219 – 2.146×1 = -0.907 KN - - - - - - (9)
Shear force between A and B varies by a straight line low Shear flow just on R.H.S of

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A = -0.927 +RA= 1.219 KN - - - - - (10)

Shear flow at D = 1.219 -2.146 × 1.219. Shear flow at D = 0
Bending Moment at C = 0 - - - - - - (11)
1.5
Bending Moment at A = -0.5× 2.146 × = 1.1513 KNm - - - - - - (12)
2

Bending Moment at E (i.e at a distance y=1m from point C)

1
= -2.146 × 1 × 2× RB×(1-2.146)

= 1.073 + 2.292 × (-1.146)

= 1.073 - 2.026
= 3.626 - - - - - - - (13)
1.219
Bending Moment at B = -2.16 × 1.219 × = -1.594 KNm - - - - - - (14)
2

Two dimensional Blade analyses,

2.146 ×0.5
M= = 0.5365
2

Thus Pz,U = -PZ,L = 0.5365

Also, Py,U=0 and Py,L= 0
PU = 0.5365 - - - - - - - - (15)
PL = -0.5365 - - - - - - - - (16)
The shear force at section 1 is 0.5 × 2.146 = 1.073 KN. This is resisted by Py,L the shear
force in the web.thus shear force in web = 1.073 KN
The shear flow distribution is
1.073 ×103
q= = 17.306 KN/m - - - - - - - -(17)
0.06²

3.6 Twisted Unsymmetrical Blade

The unsymmetrical vertical axis wind turbine Bending, axial and shear stress analyses were
blade is designed with angle of twist which is performed to determine if these dimensions and
shown in Fig.8. This design is mainly material are suitable.
considered to reduce the deflection and bending Table.1 design parameters of twisted blade
stress. To reduce the amount of material, it was PARAMETER VALUE
important to minimize the thickness and length 2.4m
thickness 3mm
withstand the worst possible wind loads. Blade weight 3kg

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Fig.8 - VAWTs blade in CATIA V5

3.7. Centrifugal Force
Table:2 The comparative stress analysis for aluminium and composite.
Description Case 1 Case 2 Case 3 Case 4 Case 5

Radius
0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9
(m)

Angular Speed
60 90 120 150 200
(RPM)
Mass (Kg) 3 3 3 3 3
Linear Speed (m/s) 2 3 4 5 6

Centrifugal force
107 240 426.367 666.198 1184.35
(N)
Result Fig No 9 10 11 12 13

Fig.9 - comparative stress analysis for aluminium and composite in case1

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Fig.10– comparative stress analysis for aluminium and composite in case2

Fig.11– comparative stress analysis for aluminium and composite in case3

Fig.12– comparative stress analysis for aluminium and composite in case4

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Fig.13.– comparative stress analysis for aluminium and composite in case 5

3.8 Pressure Load (Pressure input is given by Aeolus Aero Technologies)
Table 3. Calculation of Pressure load
Description Case 1 Case 2 Case 3 Case 4 Case 5

Linear Speed (m/s) 2 3 4 5 6

(P/Pa) 1.15 1.3 1.4 1.55 1.7

Pressure Load (Pa) 116523.75 131722.5 141855 157053.75 172252.5

Result Fig No. 14 15 16 17 18

Fig14- von mises stress analysis for aluminium & stress in y component for composite
Case2: Fig.15 shows the stress analysis for aluminium and composite.

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Fig.15- stress in y component for aluminium

Fig.16- von mises stress analysis for aluminium & stress in y component for compositeCase4:
Figure 17 shows the stress analysis for aluminium and composite.

Fig.17- stress in y component for aluminium & stress in y component for composite

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Case5: Figure 8.38 and 8.39 shows the stress analysis for aluminium and composite.

Fig.18- von mises stress analysis for aluminium & von mises stress analysis for composite

Conclusion: to manufacture. The low cost of complete rotor

The object of this project has to design a assembly of a wind turbine covers 50% of
vertical-axis wind turbine with at least 1kW overall cost. While some further work is
capacity for use in remote communities. Key required, overall, the project met its goals and
aspects of the design parameters like solidity, showed that a robust, enhancement lifetime
aspect ratio, pressure coefficient were VAWT capable of standing up to the harsh
investigated and including aerodynamics and weather conditions.
structural design Consideration has been given References:
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having more strength than aluminium. It reduces Energy, 1 (1998) 70–86.
40% of weight which is more reliable and easier [3] J.L. Tangler, The Nebulous art of using

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wind-tunnel airfoil data for predicting

rotor Performance, 5 (2002) 245-257.
[4] M.M. Duquette, K.D. Visser, Numerical
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