Effect of Aerodynamics on Wind Turbine Design

The huge potential of wind energy to generate power has made the study of wind turbines very exciting. Wind turbines should be designed in such a way that they can offer the best reliability along with maximum efficiency. As the performance of wind turbines relies on different aerodynamic properties, this chapter aims to illustrate the key aerodynamic properties that must be taken into consideration during turbine design for improved performance. This study starts with explaining the effect of different air properties like density, viscosity, temperature, pressure, and humidity on the turbine performance. Finally, aerodynamic properties that define the turbine performance, such as solidity, blade numbers, pitch, pitch angle, strut effects, height-to-radius ratio, and Reynolds number, are discussed in detail. It is concluded that all these properties are equally important and are to be given proper consideration during the process of wind turbine design to achieve maximum efficiency with satisfactory reliability.