Investigation of performance of small wind turbine blades with winglets

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss the results of the performance study of wind turbine blades equipped with winglets. An investigation focusses on small wind turbines (SWTs), where the winglets are recalled as one of the most promising concepts in terms of turbine efficiency increase.

Design/methodology/approach

To investigate a contribution of winglets to SWT aerodynamic efficiency, a wind tunnel experiment was performed at Lodz University of Technology. In parallel, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations campaign was conducted with the ANSYS CFX software to investigate appearing flow structures in greater detail.

Findings

The research indicates the potential behind the application of winglets in low Reynolds flow conditions, while the CFD study enables the identification of crucial regions influencing the flow structure in the most significant degree.

Research limitations/implications

As the global effect on a whole rotor is a result of a small-scale geometrical feature, it is important to localise unveiled phenomena and the mechanisms behind their generation.

Practical implications

Even the slightest efficiency improvement in a distributed generation installation can promote such a solution amongst energy prosumers and increase their independence from limited natural resources.

Originality/value

The winglet-equipped blades of SWTs provide an opportunity to increase the device performance with relatively low cost and ease of implementation.

Citation

Kulak, M., Lipian, M. and Zawadzki, K. (2021), "Investigation of performance of small wind turbine blades with winglets", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 31 No. 2, pp. 629-640. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-09-2019-0695