Collaborative Optimization of Aerodynamics and Wind Turbine Blades

This paper explores the application of multidisciplinary design optimization to the blades in horizontal-axis wind turbines. The aerodynamics and structural performance of blades are considered in the optimization framework. In the aerodynamic discipline, class function/shape function transformation-based parameterized modeling is used to express the airfoil. The Wilson method is employed to obtain the aerodynamic shape of the blade. Computational fluid dynamics numerical simulation is performed to analyze the aerodynamics of the blade. In the structural discipline, the materials and ply lay-up design are studied. Finite element method-based modal analysis and static structural analysis are conducted to verify the structural design of the blade. A collaborative optimization framework is set up on the Isight platform, employing a genetic algorithm to find the optimal solution for the blade’s aerodynamics and structural properties. In the optimization framework, the design variables refer to the length of the blade chord, twist angle, and lay-up thickness. Additionally, Kriging surrogate models are constructed to reduce the numerical simulation time required during optimization. An optimal Latin hypercube sampling method-based experimental design is employed to determine the samples used in the surrogate models. The optimized blade exhibits improved performance in both the aerodynamic and the structural disciplines.