The chord and twist angle distributions of

wind turbine blade from aerodynamics characteristics of

Naca0012 and Naca2412
K. Oukassou1, S. Elmouhsine2, M. M. Ichenial1, A. Elhajjaji1
Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences at Tetouan, 93030, Morocco
1

2
Department TITM, National School of Applied Sciences, Tetouan 93030, Morocco

Abstract
Nowadays, the upwind three bladed horizontal axis wind turbine is the leading player on the
market. It has been found to be the best industrial compromise in the range of different turbine
constructions [1]. The current wind industry innovation is conducted in the development of
individual turbine components. The blade geometry, namely the chord, twist and airfoil type
distributions along the span, responds to the output measures of the blade performance [2].
Therefore, the optimal wind blade geometry can improve the overall turbine performance [3].
Two dimensional models of airfoils (NACA0012, NACA2412) are analyzed for the
aerodynamic characteristics at various Reynolds numbers for a range of angles of attack from
low lift through stall, based on the chord length of the airfoil. The local characteristics, the
lift, drag, pressure coefficients are simulated by using three models the Spalart-Allmaras, the
Transition k- (RNG) and the k- shear stress transport (SST), the comparison of predictions
and experimental measurements in the wind tunnel of the National Aeronautics Advisory
Committee (NACA) for selected aerodynamic airfoils are presented. The blade geometric
parameters including chord and twist angle distributions are determined based on
aerodynamic parameters results at a specific Reynolds number. This study is carried out by
providing an optimal blade design strategy for horizontal-axis wind turbines operating at
different Reynolds numbers. As a conclusion the simulation results were compared with the
experimental results. In general, good concordances were noted. This approach can be further
developed to create the most efficient of horizontal axis wind turbine blade design.
Keywords: Airfoil, aerodynamic coefficients, lift, drag, Blade design, optimization, chord, twist angle,
Reynolds number, wind turbine.

References
[1] P.J. Musgrove, "Wind energy conversion: recent progress and future prospects," Solar & wind technology,
vol. 4, pp. 37-49, 1987.
[2] Martin O.L. Hansen. Aerodynamics of Wind Turbines. Rotors, Loads and Structures. James & James, 2000.
[3] Johansen, J. and Sorensen, N.N., Numerical Analysis of Winglets on Wind Turbine Blades using CFD,
EWEC 2007 Conference proceedings, Madrid, Spain, 2007.
 1,5
Experimental Data
0,22 Spalart-Allmaras
Spalart-Allmaras 1,0
0,20 k-omega SST
1,0 k-omega SST
0,18
k-epsilon RNG
k-epsilon RNG
0,16
0,5
0,5 0,14
0,12
0,10 0,0
0,0
CL

CD

Cp
0,08
0,06
-0,5 Experimental Data -0,5
0,04
Spalart-Allmaras
k-omega SST 0,02
-1,0 k-epsilon RNG 0,00 -1,0
-0,02
-0,04
-1,5 -1,5
-15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 0,0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1,0
AOA AOA X/C

Figure 1: Aerodynamics characteristics vs. Angle of attack (lift-center) and Pressure coefficient vs. Angle of
6
attack (right) at Reynolds number Re 1 X 10

0,28 Experimental Data Spalart-Allmaras

Spalart-Allmaras 1,0 k-omega SST
1,5
0,26
k-omega SST k-epsilon RNG
0,24
k-epsilon RNG
0,22
1,0 0,5
0,20
0,18
0,5
0,16
0,0
0,14
CD

Cp
0,0
CL

0,12
0,10 -0,5
-0,5
0,08
Experimental Data 0,06
-1,0 Spallart-ALLAMARAS -1,0
0,04
k-omega SST
0,02
-1,5 k-epsilon RNG
0,00
-1,5
-20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 0,0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1,0

AOA AOA X/C

Figure 2: Aerodynamics characteristics vs. Angle of attack (lift-center) and Pressure coefficient vs. Angle of
5
attack (right) at Reynolds number Re 2 X 10

Figure 3: Twist and cord distribution