Effect of Blade Surface R4oughness on the Wind Turbine Performance

Abstract

Suggestions for improving the efficiency and power production of a horizontal axis, stall-regulated wind turbine is proposed in this paper. Changing the local roughness on the blade surface to improve the wind turbine performance is discussed. The study included the effect of roughness grade,size and location of roughness area. Two different roughness values (P1150 and P100) were utilized and their data were compared to those of a smooth surface. The investigation was performed on the Nordtank 300 kW horizontal axix, stall-regulated wind turbine that exosts in Wind Energy Technology Center (WETC) at Hurghada, Egypt. The experimental work covers eight rectangular rough area cases having a width ratio of 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% & 10% of chord length of 10% & 20% of blade length from tip side. Experimental results indicated that the power output of the wind turbine is improved at condition of low annual wind speeds as a result of increasing local surface roughness at blades tip.