2D CFD Simulation Study on the Performance of Various NACA Airfoils

Mark Jason Thomas Loutun; Djamal Hissein Didane; Mohd Faizal Mohideen  Batcha; Kamil  Abdullah; Mas Fawzi  Mohd Ali; Akmal Nizam  Mohammed; Lukmon Owolabi  Afolabi

doi:10.37934/cfdl.13.4.3850

Authors

Mark Jason Thomas Loutun Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
Djamal Hissein Didane Center for Energy and Industrial Environment Studies, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
Mohd Faizal Mohideen Batcha Center for Energy and Industrial Environment Studies, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
Kamil Abdullah Center for Energy and Industrial Environment Studies, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
Mas Fawzi Mohd Ali Center for Energy and Industrial Environment Studies, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
Akmal Nizam Mohammed Center for Energy and Industrial Environment Studies, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
Lukmon Owolabi Afolabi Center for Energy and Industrial Environment Studies, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37934/cfdl.13.4.3850

Keywords:

CFD simulations, NACA airfoils, Wind turbine, Torque coefficient, power coefficient

Abstract

The wind is an energy source that has the properties of a clean, free, and readily available energy source. However, the efficiency of the existing rotors used to harness wind power is still not satisfactory. Thus, in this current study, the development and aerodynamic performance investigation of ten NACA airfoils comprising of five symmetrical and five non-symmetrical airfoils have been analyzed through the computational fluids dynamic (CFD) simulation approach. The main motive of this study was to investigate the aerodynamic performance of NACA airfoils to be used on a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT), which will assist in further understanding the physics of the interaction between airflow and the wind turbine blades. The simulation was performed using two-dimensional computational models based on an unsteady state K-omega Shear Stress Transport (SST) turbulence model. This study covers a parametric study based on the variations of tip-speed ratios and constant wind velocity. The aerodynamic performances are evaluated in terms of torque, torque coefficient, and also power coefficient. The performance of NACA0018 was found to be the best among the other airfoils with a power coefficient of 0.3. NACA0010 displayed the lowest power coefficient among the other airfoils but had a more extensive operating range compared to the other airfoils. However, for non-symmetrical NACA airfoils, NACA2421 scored the highest power coefficient, followed by NACA4412. It was also found that most of the non-symmetrical NACA airfoils can operate at a higher range of tip-speed ratios compared to the symmetrical NACA airfoils.

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