Blades design and analysis of a 15 MW wind turbine
This project presents the aerodynamic and structural design of a 15 MW wind turbine blade, inspired by the IEA 15-MW reference turbine. The study explores airfoil selection, blade geometry definition, structural sizing, and energy production estimation through a combination of numerical methods. Aer...
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| Tipo de recurso: | tesis de maestría |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2024 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) |
| Repositorio: | UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:dnet:upcommonspor::07995dc640e08677e4171445540210b4 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/2117/461742 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Wind turbines -- Desing Wind power Offshore wind energy BEMT Renewable energy Aerogeneradors -- Disseny Energia eòlica Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Nàutica::Enginyeria naval |
| Sumario: | This project presents the aerodynamic and structural design of a 15 MW wind turbine blade, inspired by the IEA 15-MW reference turbine. The study explores airfoil selection, blade geometry definition, structural sizing, and energy production estimation through a combination of numerical methods. Aerodynamic performance was evaluated using Blade Element Momentum Theory (BEMT) and nonlinear lifting line methods, while structural behavior was analyzed via 1D finite element beam models. Multiple airfoil families, including NACA 4-digit, 6-digit, and FFA profiles, were assessed to compare their influence on power output and structural efficiency. The final design employs a spanwise distribution of NACA 4-digit airfoils, achieving a peak power coefficient of 0.533 and an estimated Annual Energy Production (AEP) of over 86,000 MWh/year. Material selection and thickness optimization were performed to balance stiffness, mass, and manufacturability. The findings highlight the trade-offs between aerodynamic performance, structural integrity, and computational simplicity. Future work is proposed to incorporate high-fidelity CFD and 3D FEM simulations for improved accuracy and deeper insight into aero-structural coupling. |
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