Experimental Investigation of the Reynolds Number’S Effect on the Aerodynamic Characteristics of a Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine of the Göttingen 188 Airfoil Type

Abstract

In this paper, a study of the effect of Reynolds number on the aerodynamic characteristics of a horizontal axis wind turbine equipped by three adjustable blades of the Göttingen 188 airfoil has been developed. Particularly, different aerodynamic regimes defined by Reynolds numbers were investigated. To achieve this, an open wind tunnel has been used to determine the global characteristics of the wind turbine. The obtained results consist of the recovered power, the exerted torque on the rotor in static and in dynamic modes as well as power coefficient and torque coefficient. This work has been developed at Laboratory of Electro-Mechanic Systems (LASEM) of the National School of Engineers of Sfax (ENIS).