Research Article
EnhancingtheEfficiencyofHorizontalAxisWind
Turbines Through Optimization of Blade Parameters
HosseinSeifDavari ,
1
RuxandraMihaelaBotez,
2
MohsenSeifyDavari,
3
andHarunChowdhury
4
1
Department of Mechanical and Marine Engineering, Chabahar Maritime University, Chabahar, Iran
2
Laboratory of Applied Research in Active Controls, Avionics, and AeroServoelasticity LARCASE,
´
ETS-
´
Ecole de Technologie Sup´erieure, Universit´e du Qu´ebec, Montr´eal H3C 1K3, QC, Canada
3
Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Islamic Azad University, Germi, Iran
4
School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia
Correspondence should be addressed to Hossein Seif Davari; hseifdavary@gmail.com
Received 27 April 2024; Accepted 20 September 2024
Academic Editor: Yaxin Liu
Copyright © 2024 Hossein Seif Davari et al. Tis is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution
License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly
cited.
In this research, we delve into the promising potential of horizontal axis wind turbines to efectively meet the electricity needs of
developing countries. By addressing the challenges posed by low Reynolds number airfow characteristics, we focus on specifc
airfoils—E471, S2055, and RG15—tailored for horizontal axis wind turbine blade optimization. Utilizing QBLADE software, we
evaluate the lift coefcient, stall angle of attack, and lift-to-drag ratio coefcient efciency of these airfoils across various thickness-to-
camber ratios. Te aerodynamic efciency of the altered airfoils is assessed in terms of lift coefcient, drag coefcient, lift-to-drag ratio
coefcient, and stall angle of attack at Reynolds number ranging from 50,000 to 500,000. Te fndings reveal that the optimized
thickness-to-camber ratio results in peak lift-to-drag ratio coefcient values surpassing the reference airfoils across the Re range. Tese
lift-to-drag ratio coefcient enhancements vary among airfoils and Re values. Furthermore, modifcations to the E471, S2055, and RG15
airfoils increase the peak lift coefcient and stall angle of attack values across all Re ranges examined. Te validation of results is achieved
through comparison with experimental testing, solidifying the reliability of QBLADE software in predicting aerodynamic performance.
Keywords: aerodynamic; blade; efciency; horizontal axis wind turbines; optimization; stall
1.Introduction
Te Reynolds number (Re), a dimensionless quantity, char-
acterizes the fow regime over a body, such as an airfoil, and is
defned as the ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces. It plays
a critical role in determining the aerodynamic performance of
airfoils, particularly in the context of wind energy systems [1].
Te aerodynamic performance of airfoils plays a crucial role
in maximizing the efciency of wind turbines, particularly in
the context of low Re fows [2]. Tese issues can signifcantly
reduce the lift-to-drag ratio (L/D) and overall efciency of the
airfoil, posing a considerable threat to the performance of
wind turbines operating in these conditions [3, 4].
AtlowRe,thefowoveranairfoil can experience adverse
efects such as early transition from laminar to turbulent
fow, increased fow separation, and susceptibility to stall [5].
Tese phenomena lead to a signifcant reduction in the
aerodynamic efciency of the airfoil, characterized by
a decrement in lift coefcient (C
L
) and an increment in drag
coefcient (C
D
). Te consequence is compromised wind
turbine performance, which may exhibit lower power output
and reduced operational stability [6, 7].
One of the signifcant challenges in designing and op-
timizing wind turbines for low Re is the potential for fow
stall, where the airfow detaches from the surface of the
airfoil, resulting in a sudden loss of lift [8]. Tis is
Wiley
Journal of Engineering
Volume 2024, Article ID 8574868, 31 pages
https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/8574868