Airfoil optimization for small horizontal axis wind turbine

Abstract

In order to take advantage of the low wind speed found in the Colombian territory, a gradient-based optimization process (GBA) of 2 airfoils is carried out, using the Xfoil software to evaluate the interactions. The shapes chosen will be destined for the root and for the middle zone of a blade for a small horizontal axis wind turbine (sHAWT). The blade will be created from the calculation of the chord and pitch angle with the blade element momentum methodology (BEM) and the SHAWT will be tested by CFD software to check its performance. As a preliminary result, a root-bound airfoil has been obtained with a higher performance than the airfoil used as a bases.