Investigation of an Innovative Blade with an Internal Channel and Tangential Slots for Enhanced Thrust Generation Using the Coanda Effect

This study presents the design, numerical analysis, and experimental validation of an innovative wind turbine blade incorporating an internal flow channel and tangential slots to harness the Coanda effect for enhanced aerodynamic performance. The primary objective is to improve thrust generation and lift while reducing drag, thereby increasing the efficiency of wind turbines and potential aerial propulsion systems. A three-dimensional blade model was developed in COMPAS-3D and fabricated using PET-G filament through 3D printing, enabling precise realization of the internal geometry. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, conducted in ANSYS Fluent using a refined mesh and the k—ω SST turbulence model, revealed that the proposed blade design significantly improves pressure distribution and airflow attachment along the blade surface. Compared to a conventional blade under identical wind conditions (12 m/s), the innovative blade achieved a 12% increase in power coefficient, lift force of 33 N and drag force of 60 N, validating the efficacy of the Coanda-based flow control. Wind tunnel experiments confirmed the numerical predictions, with close agreement in thrust and lift measurements. The blade demonstrated consistent performance across varying wind velocities, highlighting its applicability in renewable energy systems and passive flow control for aerial platforms. The findings establish a practical, scalable approach to aerodynamic optimization using structural enhancements, contributing to the development of next-generation wind energy technologies and efficient propulsion systems.