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Article history: Wind energy is one of the clean renewable forms of energy that can handle the existing global fossil
Received 12 June 2014 fuel crisis. Although it contributes to 2.5% of the global electricity demand, with diminishing fossil fuel
Received in revised form sources, it is important that wind energy is harnessed to a greater extent to meet the energy crisis and
27 August 2015
problem of pollution. The present work involves study of effect of pitch angle on the performance of a
Accepted 18 September 2015
Available online 1 December 2015
horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT), NREL Phase VI. The wind velocities considered for the study are
7, 15.1 and 25.1 m/s. The simulations are performed using a commercial CFD code Fluent. A frozen rotor
model is used for simulation, wherein the governing equations are solved in the moving frame of ref-
Keywords:
HAWT erence rotating with the rotor speed. The SST k-ω turbulence model has been used. It is seen that the
NREL Phase VI thrust increases with increase in wind velocity, and decreases with increase in pitch angle. For a given
Pitch angle wind velocity, there is an optimum pitch angle where the power generated by the turbine is maximum.
CFD The observed effect of pitch angle on the power produced has been correlated to the stall characteris-
tics of the airfoil blade.
Copyright © 2015, The Authors. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Karabuk
University. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/
licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jestch.2015.09.010
2215-0986/Copyright © 2015, The Authors. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Karabuk University. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-
ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
S.A.R. et al./Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal 19 (2016) 632–641 633
2. Problem description
Table 1
Parameters considered for analysis.
FN ,T
C N ,T = (3)
1
ρ Vin + (rω ) ⎤⎦ C
⎡ 2 2
2 ⎣
The pressure distribution across the airfoil may be quantified non-
dimensionally using the coefficient of pressure (Cp) defined as
p − p∞
Cp = (4)
1
ρ ⎡ Vin 2 + (rω ) ⎤⎦
2
2 ⎣
Fig. 4. (a) Computational Domain and (b) Rotor blade and hub meshed. (c) Meshing at the leading edge of a blade cross section. (d) Meshing at the trailing edge of a blade
cross section.
5. Results and discussion pitch angle. As thrust is the normal force integrated over the entire
blade surface, the thrust trend shown in Fig. 8a is the same as CN
Initially the effect of pitch angle for Vin = 7 m/s on the perfor- trend. The power trend shown in Fig. 8b is the same as the CT trend
mance parameters is presented. Then in the later section the effect as the tangential force is responsible for torque generation. Similar
of wind speeds Vin = 15.1 m/s and 25.1 m/s on the performance is to CT, power reaches its maximum at pitch angle of 5° and becomes
presented. negative at −10° and 20°. At −10° and 20° the turbine would shut
off.
5.1. Effect of pitch angle This trend in CT and power is due to stalling. Stall is the
phenomenon, in which the lift force drops with a high gradient
In this section, the effect of pitch angle for Vin = 7 m/s on per- with increase in angle of attack, α. The angle of attack was
formance parameter is presented. Fig. 7 shows the variation of CN calculated based on the method described in [13] and [14]. The
and CT with pitch angle. CN decreases with increase in pitch angle, variation of α and FL/FD with r/R for ϕ = −10°, 5° and 20° is shown
i.e., the normal force on the blade increases. This is because of de- in Fig. 9. The stall angle for the NREL S809 is 9° (reported by
crease in the blade frontal area as the turbine blade becomes more [14]), which is shown by a constant line in Fig. 9a. It may be seen
parallel to the inlet flow direction with increase in pitch angle. CT from the figure that for ϕ = −10°, all along the blade α is above the
variation with pitch angle is nearly symmetric about 5°. The stall angle and thus stalled throughout the blade; for ϕ = 5°, α is
maximum value of CT is obtained at pitch angle of 5° and becomes close to the stall angle; and for ϕ = 20°, α is below the stall angle
negative at −10° and 20°. Fig. 8 shows the variation of the global and thus there is no stall. For ϕ = −10°, due to stalling FL/FD ratio is
parameters of interest – thrust and power developed for different low throughout the length of the blade as seen in Fig. 9b. For
636 S.A.R. et al./Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal 19 (2016) 632–641
Fig. 5. Variation of Cp with x/c at r/R = (a) 0.3; (b) 0.47; (c) 0.63; (d) 0.80; (e) 0.95.
S.A.R. et al./Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal 19 (2016) 632–641 637
ϕ = 5°, turbine operates very close to stall region, hence almost 5.2. Effect of wind velocity
constant FL/FD ratio is observed as seen in Fig. 9b. In this case also,
α has very little influence on the FL/FD ratio. For, ϕ = 20°, α has a The effect of wind velocity on performance is presented
significant effect on power generation. It can be seen that the in this section. Simulations are done for different pitch angles for
FL/FD ratio decreases all along the length of the blade as α de- Vin = 15.1 and 25.1 m/s. The pitch angles considered for each Vin
creases. Due to this the average value of FL/FD ratio is low for this are summarized in Table 1. Fig. 11 shows the variation of CN and
case. CT with ϕ at r/R = 0.47 and 0.8 for Vin = 7, 15.1 and 25.1 m/s. The
Flow visualization around the airfoil can help in understanding trends observed in CN and CT at higher velocities are the same as
the flow behavior at different cross sections. They would also help seen at 7 m/s. For all blade cross sections, CN increases with
in understanding the lift and drag force generation. The velocity increase in Vin due to increase in the momentum of the wind.
streamlines over different blade section at ϕ = −10°, 5° and 20° are The dome shaped trend is seen for CT with pitch angle for all
shown in Fig. 10. It can be seen that flow separation takes place velocities and the maximum occurs at higher pitch angles for
around the airfoil across the entire length for ϕ = −10°. This con- higher velocities. This is because stall occurs at lower pitch angles
firms the stalling as discussed earlier. The flow is streamlined for high velocity flows. Fig. 12 shows the variation of thrust and
and small separation is observed very close to the trailing power with pitch angle for different wind velocities. With in-
edge of the airfoil for ϕ = 5° case. The weak separation results in crease in velocity the thrust increases for a given pitch angle.
maximum lift and thus generates high power. Thus pitch angle of The power curve shifts to the right as seen in Fig. 12b with
5° is optimum for an inlet velocity of 7 m/s. For ϕ = 20° case, also increase in wind velocity. The optimum pitch angle where
there is no separation, but due to low values of FL/FD ratio, power maximum power is achieved increases with Vin. Maximum power
is low. Due to reversal of pressure distribution, turbine would shut is obtained at 5° for Vin = 7 m/s, ϕ ~ 20° for Vin = 15.1 m/s and
off. ϕ ~ 30° for Vin = 25.1 m/s.
638 S.A.R. et al./Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal 19 (2016) 632–641
Fig. 8. Variation of (a) Thrust and (b) Power with pitch angle at different r/R for
Fig. 9. Variation of (a) Angle of attack and (b) Lift to drag ratio with r/R.
Vin = 7 m/s.
The variation of α and FL/FD ratio along the length of the blade be seen that the angle of attack is close to the stall angle for
for ϕ = 5°, 20° and 30° is plotted in Figs. 13 and 14, respectively. These Vin = 25.1 m/s and hence results in maximum FL/FD ratio and power.
pitch angles are chosen as the maximum power is obtained at these The angle of attack corresponding to 15.1 m/s velocity is less and
angles. It can be seen that for a pitch angle of 5° (Figs. 13a and 14a), therefore results in negative lift force making the turbine to shut
the angle of attack is very close to the stall region for Vin = 7 m/s. off.
Consequently, we can see that the maximum FL/FD ratio for Vin = 7 m/
s. For 15.1 m/s and 25.1 m/s, the plots indicate that the angle of attack
is above stall throughout the entire blade length and thus FL/FD is 6. Conclusion
observed to be low, this ratio being only a function of angle of attack.
Thus, 5° pitch angle is optimum for a wind turbine when the op- Based on the numerical study conducted on the effect of pitch
erating velocity is 7 m/s for optimum power generation. For 20° pitch angle on performance of a HAWT, NREL Phase VI the following con-
angle (Figs. 13b and 14b), the angle of attack for Vin = 15.1 m/s is clusions are made.
very close to the stall angle. As velocity is increased to 25.1 m/s, al-
though angle of attack increases, turbine starts to operate in 1. The SST k-ω turbulence model predicts thrust and power in good
completely stalled region. When velocity is reduced to 7 m/s, a very agreement with experimental results.
small angle of attack is obtained. Hence the maximum FL/FD ratio 2. For a given wind velocity, there is an optimum pitch angle where
is obtained for 15.1 m/s and a low FL/FD ratio is obtained for 25.1 m/s the power generated by the turbine is maximum. This optimum
and 7 m/s. Hence, it is recommended to operate the wind turbine angle depends on the wind velocity. It is found to be 5° for
with a pitch angle of 20° for obtaining maximum power at a ve- Vin = 7 m/s, ϕ ~ 20° for Vin = 15.1 m/s and ϕ ~ 30° for Vin = 25.1 m/
locity of 15.1 m/s. For a pitch angle of 30° (Figs. 13c and 14c), it can s. Operating the turbine at other angles would result in
S.A.R. et al./Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal 19 (2016) 632–641 639
Fig. 10. Streamlines at different r/R for ϕ = (a) −10°; (b) 5°; (c) 20°.
Fig. 11. Variation of (a) CN and (b) CT with pitch angle for Vin = 7, 15.1, 25.1 m/s. Fig. 12. Variation of (a) Thrust and (b) Power with pitch angle for Vin = 7, 15.1, 25.1 m/s.
640 S.A.R. et al./Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal 19 (2016) 632–641
Fig. 13. Variation of angle of attack with r/R for ϕ = (a) 5°; (b) 20°; (c) 30°.
lower power. At angles deviated from the optimum angle, the FL Lift force (N)
performance of the turbine would deteriorate and eventually shut FN Normal force (N)
off. It has been seen that at these pitch angles, the angle of attack FT Tangential force (N)
is close to the stall angle and thus experiences highest lift to drag k Turbulent kinetic energy (m2/s2)
force ratio. p Pressure (N/m2)
3. Thrust increases with increase in free stream air velocity because p∞ Ambient pressure (N/m2)
of greater momentum transfer. Thrust decreases with increase T Torque (N-m)
in pitch angle due to reduction in frontal area and thus de- ui Velocity components (m/s)
crease in the drag experienced by the blade. ui’ Fluctuating components of velocity (m/s)
Vin Wind velocity (m/s)
Nomenclature Vrel Velocity of wind relative to blade (m/s)
α Angle of attack – AOA (degrees)
C Chord length (m) β Local or section twist angle (degrees)
CN Coefficient of normal force θ Angle of Vrel with respect to plane of rotation (degrees)
CP Coefficient of pressure ϕ Global pitch angle (degrees)
CT Coefficient of tangential force ρ Fluid density (kg/m3)
FD Drag force (N) ω Angular velocity of turbine (rad/s)
S.A.R. et al./Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal 19 (2016) 632–641 641
Fig. 14. Variation of Lift to drag with r/R for ϕ = (a) 5°; (b) 20°; (c) 30°.
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