2021-The Effects of Blades Number, Blade Thickness, Blade Tip Angle
2021-The Effects of Blades Number, Blade Thickness, Blade Tip Angle
2021-The Effects of Blades Number, Blade Thickness, Blade Tip Angle
Abstract
The paper gives an experimental study on the performance on the wind turbine rotors with
several numbers of blades as well as twist angle. The main goal of this study is to demonstrate the
effect blades number, tip angles as well as the twist angle of the blades on the power coefficient (Cp) of
the rotor. Moreover, this result represents a simple evaluation about the range of depending power
coefficient on the average wind speed.
Also, this paper studies the performance of wind turbines which are tested by carrying out 2-
dimensional dynamic using ANSYS-Fluent.
Key words: Blades Number, Tip angle, Twist angle, Wind turbines
1. Introduction
Wind energy represents one of the main resources for generating electricity. This is because it
does not cause any pollution. Therefore, the scientists focus greatly on producing economical wind
turbines in order to decrease the cost of power generation. Moreover, most of the previous techniques
of developing wind turbines considered the highest efficiency of these turbines is the most important
property of their designing characteristics in addition to achieve overall good efficiency[1, 2]. The
efficiency of the wind turbines depends essentially on the blades of their rotors. In fact, the twist of the
blades as well as the blade tip angle play an important role in extracting optimal power from wind
power [3, 4]. Also, the tip speed ratio has to be selected accurately in designing wind turbine blade. On
the other hand, tip speed ratio depends greatly on the profile type of the rotor in addition to the number
of blades [5]. In practice, the observed kinetic energy, which can be changed to mechanical energy, is
proportional with the number of blades [6]. This means increasing the number of the blades increases
the efficiency of the turbine. Nevertheless, when blades number becomes so high, the space between
them decreases then a back pressure can be generated [6]. This pressure reduces the efficiency of the
turbine [6]. In the last decades, numerous studies focus greatly in increasing the scale of wind turbines,
which have a very narrow range of tip speed ratio (TSR). One of these studies demonstrates that the Cp
of vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) can be 0.30 in the experiment with cross flow runner [7]. This
value is considered the highest between the types of VAWT. This is because cross flow turbine
involves a number of circular blades. This helps air effectively in passing through runner twice, which
increases the efficiency [8, 9].
This paper will discuss the performance of various profile types of wind turbine with various
numbers of blades. The main aim of this paper is to implement experimental study to demonstrate the
influence of several parameters like number of blades, blade thickness, blade tip angle, and twist angle
of the blades tip on the response of wind turbines.
2. Wind Turbine
The development and research focused mainly on wind turbines with 3 blades during the last
few decades. On the other side, the 2-bladed turbines remain under study and development until the
1970’s and 1980’s. After that, the research effort on the 2-bladed turbines had been decreased
obviously especially during recent years. This is because the 2-bladed turbines have more
disadvantages like higher noise emissions, the distracting visual influences as well as the bad dynamic
performance.
One of the main equations which are necessary in this field is Continuity equation [10]. This
formula is used generally in Computational Fluid Dynamics. It is given below [10]:
There are two main factors used in calculating wind turbine responses which are moment
coefficient (Cm) as well as power coefficient (Cp). The value of Cm is defined as follows [7]:
V: wind speed
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Scenarios which have been tested to determine the performance curves of wind turbines. This aspect
gives a clear idea about experimental result and how they have been measured.
Furthermore, the number of the blades of the turbines is varied during experimental study.
Clearly, The first type (type a,) has been checked in three configurations: 2, 3 and 6 blades of rotor.
However, wind turbine type b is tested only with 3 blades of rotor. In addition, the cross section of
these two generators is same however the type of windings is changed.
4.2 Wind Turbine Power Coefficient: Various Scenarios
Before implementing any scenario, there are several parameters which have to be calculated
practically. Firstly, cut in speed is measured for each turbine. This speed is measured by testing the
wind turbine at a specific tip angle for blades without load. This test is performed with a range of wind
speeds with a small period between these speeds for air flow. Moreover, the power curve of the wind
turbine is calculated by torque change as shown in Figure 1 below.
Turbine
Axial force
frequency
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In clear, the torque and the power of the turbine are varied through changing power resistor
from the maximum value to the minimum. The torque is proportional inversely with this resistor. As a
result, the torque reaches the maximum value with a minimum power resistor. There are three
magnitudes of wind speeds which are 6,5m/s, 8,5m/s and 10,5 m/s. These values are considered
reference wind speeds (Vref). These speeds are applied in all tests of this paper with various
configurations of small wind turbines to demonstrate their power curves. After that, the two turbines
(type A and type B) will be tested in different configurations and blades as given below. For blades
type A, the length of rotor diameter is 3,2m. While for blades type B, it is 2,6m.
4.3 Measurement method
To calculate the cut in speed of the turbine, it is tested without load at a specific tip angle. For
adjusting wind speed through the tunnel, air flow is increased gradually in several steps will lagging
time between them. By this mechanism, cut in wind speed of the turbine is calculated. Experimental
results demonstrate that the cut in speed of the turbine is 100 turns/min. In addition, variable torque
helps clearly in drawing power curve as shown in figure 1.In the beginning, the value of the power
resistor is increased to the maximum for keeping wind speed at the required speed. After that, load
resistor is decreased gradually in order to increasing generated power as well as torque of synchronous
generator up to maximum values. At the same time, the information of the wind turbine such as wind
speeds, torques as well as rotational speeds of the rotor are recorded. There are three wind speeds
(Vref) are considered as references for all configurations of power curves. These speeds are 6m/s, 8m/s
and 10 m/s. Those velocities are kept same in all applied experiments. In fact, these wind speeds help
largely in drawing power curves of small wind turbines.
5. Power Curves of Wind Turbine
5.1 Power Curves of Wind Turbine Type A blades
Wind turbine type A had been checked in three case studies when blades of rotor 2, 3 and
6.Wind turbine is tested in standalone battery storage power source as well as connecting station
directly to the grid. The values of power coefficients (Cp) are found with respect to tip speed ratio (λ).
Equations (1) and (2) below demonstrate this relationship between the generated power and tip speed
ratio [3]:
--------------------------------(1)
------------------------------(2)
Where:
P: calculated mechanical power
Ρ: the air of density
V: calculated airspeed
Λ: tip speed ratio
D: the diameter of rotor
R: the radius of rotor
In all experiments, it is impossible to adjust wind speed in tunnel at a specific magnitude
exactly. The deviation of these speeds form correct values is about 0,5 m/s. consequently, a small
correction is implemented to the calculated power by applying equation (3):
- ----------------------------(3)
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Where:
Vref: reference wind speed,
Pm: calculated power
a) Power coefficient of 2 blades rotor
In general, the tip angle of the rotor blade is small in order to run at best situation.
Consequently, the tip angle is changed for these three small values which are 00, 20, and 50.The test
results are shown in figures 3, 4, and 5 below.
0.45
Cp
Cp Vs Lamda (6m/s)
Cp Vs Lamda (8m/s)
0.4 Cp Vs Lamda (10 m/s)
0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Lamda
0.4
Cp
Cp Vs Lamda (6 m/s)
0.35
Cp Vs Lamda (8 m/s)
Cp Vs Lamda (10 m/s)
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Lamda
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0.45
Cp
Cp Vs Lamda(6 m/s)
Cp Vs Lamda (8 m/s)
0.4
Cp Vs Lamda(10 m/s)
0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Lamda
Therefore, the best response for this type (type a) is occurred at low wind speeds and that useful
for many places. In addition, the place of wind turbine installation and its average wind speeds plays an
important role in selecting the tip angle of rotor. When average wind speed is high, tip angle of the
rotor has to decrease then the power coefficient increases. Moreover, when average wind speed is low,
the tip angle has to be improved in order to reducing the cut in speed of the turbine. Nevertheless, the
power coefficient varies of these turbines (type a) is changing about 10% during rising wind speed
from 6 m/s to 10m/s.
b) Power coefficient for 3 blades rotor
In this part, the wind turbine type a with same diameter as previous part had been used, however
the blades of the rotor becomes three. Moreover, the same previous tip angles of the rotor had been
tested. The curves of the power coefficient at these angles are shown in the figures 6, 7, and 8 below.
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0.6
Cp
Cp Vs Lamda (6 m/s)
Cp Vs Lamda (8 m/s)
Cp Vs Lamda ( 10 m/s)
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Lamda
Cp Vs Lamda(6 m/s)
Cp Vs Lamda (8 m/s)
0.4
Cp Vs Lamda (10 m/s)
0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Lamda
Fig. 7: Cp 3 blades 20
0.45
Cp
Cp Vs Lamda (6m/s)
0.4 Cp Vs Lamda (8m/s)
Cp Vs Lamda(10m/s)
0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Lamda
Fig 8: Cp 3 blades 50
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The result demonstrates that power of the turbine with 3 blades is higher than the power of the
turbine with 2 blades with same tip angles. This result is expected because 3 blades help more than 2
blades in extracting power from wind. On the other hand, tip speed ratio and λ in this situation are less
than their peers for 2 blades.
c) Power coefficients for 6 blades rotor
In this case the number of the blades had been increased to six. The results of the power
coefficients are given in figures 9, 10, 11, and 12.
0.6
Cp
Cp Vs Lamda(6m/s)
Cp Vs Lamda(8 m/s)
Cp Vs Lamda (10 m/s)
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Lamda
Cp Vs Lamda(6 m/s)
Cp Vs Lamda (8m/s)
Cp Vs Lamda(10 m/s)
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Lamda
0.6
Cp
Cp Vs Lamda(6 m/s)
Cp Vs Lamda (8m/s)
0.5 Cp Vs Lamda(10 m/s)
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Lamda
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0.45
Cp
0.4 CpVs Lamda(6 m/s)
Cp Vs Lamda (8 m/s)
Cp Vs Lamda (10 m/s)
0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Lamda
In this case study, the power coefficients are better than previous two cases. In addition, the
variation in power coefficient with changing tip angle of the blades from 00to 50is small. Also, this
variation becomes bigger with low wind speeds.
d) Summary of wind turbine type A results
According to preceding study, it is clear that the number of the blades play an important role in
changing the value of several main factors such as power coefficient (Cp), cut-in speed of the turbine
and so on. As a result, designer depends mainly on these characteristics like power coefficient (Cp),
and required cut-in speed of the turbine in selecting its number of the blades. Furthermore, average
wind speed of location for installation represents one of the main factors in restricting number of
blades. Figure 13 below demonstrates the variation of maximum power coefficient with respect to wind
tip angle at different number of blades. Moreover, the decreasing of wind speed reduces the power
coefficients directly. However, most of wind turbines become quicker with decreasing the number of
blades [3]. Figure (14) demonstrates that tip speed radio, and λ decrease with increasing tip angle of
the blades. In addition, α of the 2 blades turbine, when the speed equals to Cpmax and λ equals to
λmax, is so lower than its peers of 3 or 6 blades rotor. With respect to 6 blades, λmax becomes slower.
It is noticed that α equals to 80 for 2 blades rotor. Moreover, it is as quick as 6 blades one.
0.6
Cp max
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
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0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
4
Wind speed & Number of blades(2degree)
Wind speed(m/s)
2.5
1.5
0.5
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Number of blades
Fig.15: The difference in Cut-in wind speed between the configurations of type A with
different blade number.
Cut-in speed represents one of the main features of the turbines. Figure (15) above demonstrates
the change of cut-in wind speed with respect to the number of blades at different tip angle of blade, as
well as α. In general, cut-in wind speed of the turbine is decreased with increasing the number of
blades. However, cut-in speed decreases with boosting the tip angle of blades.
The average wind speed of the installation position plays a significant role in identifying blades
number, blade tip angle as well as cut in wind of the turbine which should be installed. The variation of
both cut in wind speed and power coefficient as compared with blade tip angle is similar. Both of them
decrease with increasing blade tip angle.
5.2 Power Curves of Wind Turbine Type B
Wind turbine type b blades are really designed with optimum design principles as given in table
2 before [3]. Moreover, the configuration of rotor blades for turbine type b was checked with just 3
blades. The main goal of this study is to evaluate the influence of twist blade angle on wind turbine
performances experimentally.
Power coefficient evaluation for type a as well as b represents an approximate estimation for the
effect of blade twist angle on the response of these devices. The rotor blades of type b have highest
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power coefficient when the angle of blade tip equals to 70. The additional experiments have been
measured when α equals to 100, 12 and 200.These results are demonstrated in Figures 16, 17, and 18
respectively .As known, the power coefficient is proportional directly with wind speed.
0.6
Cp
Cp Vs Lamda (10 m/s)
Cp Vs Lamda (8 m/s)
Cp Vs Lamda (6 m/s)
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Lamda
Cp Vs Lamda(10 m/s)
0.45 Cp Vs Lamda98 m/s)
Cp VsLamda(6 m/s)
0.4
0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Lamda
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0.2
Cp
Cp Vs Lamda (10 m/s)
0.18 Cp Vs Lamda(8m/s)
CP Vs Lamda(6m/s)
0.16
0.14
0.12
0.1
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Lamda
0.6
Cp
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0 5 10 15 20 25
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0
5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21
Fig. 21: The relationship of Cm against TSR for different blade thicknesses
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0.6
Cp
CP Vs TSR(20mm)
CP vs TSR (15 mm)
CP vs TSR (10mm)
0.5
CP vs TSR (2,5mm)
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
TSR
Fig. 22: The relationship of Cp against TSR for different blade thicknesses.
For the turbine which has 22 numbers of the blades, Cp becomes maximum when TSR equals to
0.2. On the other hand, Cp of the 18 blade number turbine becomes maximum when TSR equals to 0.3.
In addition, figure 23 below shows the chart of Cp values against TSR for a turbine has 20 mm blade
thickness.
0.6
0.5-0.6 CP
0.4-0.5 0.5
0.3-0.4
0.2-0.3
0.1-0.2 0.4
0-0.1
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.5
CP & TSR (20 bladed 20mm) 0.4048
0.3 TSR
0.2754
CP & TSR (22 bladed 20mm) 0.188
0.1
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Optimum performance for the turbine can be achieved with higher TSR and lower number of
the blade. These properties help greatly in satisfying high rotation. Then, the air cannot pass easily
between the blades. Furthermore, figure (24) below shows velocity vectors for TSR equals to 0.1.
The above figure demonstrates that the turbine, which has 22 blades, involves maximum blades
for interacting with airflow to satisfy positive moments for extracting power. When TSR equals to 0.1
and 0.2, Cm and Cp are optimum for a wind turbine with 22 blades. However, this cannot satisfy when
TSR equals to 0.4 or 0.5. The reason of that is the difficulty of air passing between the blades which
reduce positive moments for extracting power. Therefore, the turbine, which has 22 blade numbers and
smallest gap between blade, has minimum Cm and Cp. Additionally, figure (25) gives speed vectors
when 0.5 TSR.
Fig. 25: The speed vector on turbine Fig. 24: The speed vector on turbine
(TSR 0.5) (TSR 0.1)
6. Conclusions
The use of wind turbines for generating electrical energy is increased greatly in the 21th century.
This is because power resource is renewable resource and does not have any pollution. The experimental
results, which are obtained from two different groups, demonstrate the effects of designing parameters on
the mechanical response of these turbines. This paper studies the performance of two types of turbines
which have same aerodynamic profiles with various twist angles of blades.
The main conclusions are:
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Journal of University of Babylon for Engineering Sciences, Vol. (29), No. (1): 2021.
a) At best tip angle of the blades, highest power coefficients are similar if the aerodynamic blade profile
is chosen correctly;
b) With increasing twist of the blades, tip angle has to be reduced which means the relationship of the
blades between twists and tip angles are inverse
c) The mechanism of increasing twist angle must be applied on lower wind speeds with changing Cp
about 10% overall working scale of wind speeds.
d) The value of Cp is very small for the rotor with 2 especially with rising of α; at upper α, which
makes cut in speed of the turbine smaller.
e) The Cp of the turbine which has 6 blades is so lower as compared with Cp of the peers which
involves 2 or 3 blades. This is because increasing blades number makes the varying area of cut in
wind speed bigger without influence on the magnitude of power coefficient.
f) For all types of wind turbines which are tested in this research, the turbine, that has 20 mm blade
thickness, has maximum torque coefficient as well as power coefficient. On the other side, the
turbine with 22 blade number has best power coefficient. Lastly, the turbine, which involves 18
blade numbers, has the power coefficient better with respect to the highest TSR.
Conflicts of Interest
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