- #1
DaveC426913
Gold Member
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The wind turbine I pass everday seems to have its blades almost flat to the wind. So, I want to make sure I understand exactly what the wind turbine is doing, and if I have the airfoil components right - see my diagram.
It seems to me that, as the angle of attack is increased, the resultant lifting force on the foil is turned farther and farther backwards, meaning less force is put into rotating the rotor and more is put into trying to bend the turbine's spine. (Well, I guess that rearward component is actually drag isn't it?)
Contrarily, the lower the angle of attack is, the more the lifting force of the foil is inline with the preferred direction that will rotate the rotor. but the tradeoff is that a lower AoA means less lifting force.
I think, despite all this, the most efficient point is reached at the highest angle of attack before separation of boundary layer. Is this correct?
It seems to me that, as the angle of attack is increased, the resultant lifting force on the foil is turned farther and farther backwards, meaning less force is put into rotating the rotor and more is put into trying to bend the turbine's spine. (Well, I guess that rearward component is actually drag isn't it?)
Contrarily, the lower the angle of attack is, the more the lifting force of the foil is inline with the preferred direction that will rotate the rotor. but the tradeoff is that a lower AoA means less lifting force.
I think, despite all this, the most efficient point is reached at the highest angle of attack before separation of boundary layer. Is this correct?