an innovative approach to making ultra light weight wind
turbine blades
;Suhail Zaki Farooqui
parkinson's disease2012Vol. 31pp. 201-210
181
farooqui2012mehranan
Abstract
An innovative mould free method for the fabrication of ultimate light weight small wind turbine blades
made out of composites has been suggested in this paper. The method has been practically applied with
very satisfactory results. The method is low cost and is specifically suitable for individual small wind
turbine makers. The airfoils used are simple to shape and possess good Cl/Cd characteristics. The blades
are crafted using galvanized iron sheets, aluminum pipes, hard paper and fiberglass. A computer program
is included with tip correction features to design the blades at the required power rating, wind speed, tip
speed ratio and the chosen constant angle of attack. Results of the program run for designing 250 and
500 watt wind turbine blades at 8 m/s wind speed and tip speed ratios of 5.5 are tabulated. Performance
results of the blades thus produced are also discussed.