DESIGN AND FLOW ANALYSIS OF A 2MW WIND TURBINE

Wind turbines are used to convert wind energy into electrical power and useful mechanical work for various daily life applications. There is an increase in demand of high power generation which compels the wind towers to be made taller so that they catch stronger winds at high altitudes. Most of the blades available for commercial grade wind turbines incorporate various aerofoil shaped cross sections. These blades are generally found to be very efficient at lower wind speeds in the extraction of potential energy. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a branch of fluid mechanics which uses numerical methods and algorithms to solve and analyse problems that involve fluid flows of viscid or non-viscid type. In this work, CAD modelling and CFD analysis of wind turbine blade for 2MW power generation is carried out. SOLIDWORKS-16 and ANSYS-15 softwares have been used. The wind turbine blade has been redesigned completely using modified S1223 aerofoil by changing its twist and adjusting the flex optimally. The critical angle of attack is found to be 8 degrees and maximum coefficient of performance is found to be 0.271.