{"title":"Innovative Dual Rotor Wind Turbine Design Based on Humpback Whale Blades: Simulation Analysis","authors":"Mais Alzgool, Mohammad Hassan, Raed Alzoubi","doi":"10.1002/ese3.70147","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>To enhance the performance of wind turbines, this study investigates the integration of two wind energy harvesting systems. An optimal wind turbine configuration has been identified by using dual rotor wind turbine (DRWT) technology with a novel blade design known as the humpback blade, which is inspired by the fins of humpback whales. This design features tubercles and ridges along the leading edge that extend over the last third of the blade's length. The innovative humpback blade design lowered the nominal angle of attack in comparison to conventional blades, which led to a significant boost in lift and a notable reduction in drag forces. This enhancement in the lift-to-drag ratio enabled more efficient rotation at lower wind speeds. Furthermore, single rotor turbines fitted with these blades showed improved energy extraction and decreased turbulence intensity behind the rotor, making them especially effective in DRWT setups. The results validated the benefits of the humpback blade design in dual rotor systems, where the new design enhanced the lift-to-drag ratio in both upwind and downwind positions, resulting in higher overall energy output than turbines with standard blades. As a result, different configurations of the DRWT have been tested and examined. The proposed configuration with a humpback rotor in the downwind position resulted in a <span></span><math>\n <semantics>\n <mrow>\n \n <mrow>\n <mn>19</mn>\n \n <mo>.</mo>\n \n <mn>22</mn>\n \n <mo>%</mo>\n </mrow>\n </mrow>\n </semantics></math> increase in the lift-to-drag ratio. Similarly, employing a humpback rotor in the upwind position improved the lift-to-drag ratio by <span></span><math>\n <semantics>\n <mrow>\n \n <mrow>\n <mn>9</mn>\n \n <mo>.</mo>\n \n <mn>26</mn>\n \n <mo>%</mo>\n </mrow>\n </mrow>\n </semantics></math>. These enhancements lead to greater energy extraction from DRWTs compared to those with standard blades under the same study conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":11673,"journal":{"name":"Energy Science & Engineering","volume":"13 8","pages":"3998-4010"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4000,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://scijournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ese3.70147","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Energy Science & Engineering","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://scijournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ese3.70147","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ENERGY & FUELS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
To enhance the performance of wind turbines, this study investigates the integration of two wind energy harvesting systems. An optimal wind turbine configuration has been identified by using dual rotor wind turbine (DRWT) technology with a novel blade design known as the humpback blade, which is inspired by the fins of humpback whales. This design features tubercles and ridges along the leading edge that extend over the last third of the blade's length. The innovative humpback blade design lowered the nominal angle of attack in comparison to conventional blades, which led to a significant boost in lift and a notable reduction in drag forces. This enhancement in the lift-to-drag ratio enabled more efficient rotation at lower wind speeds. Furthermore, single rotor turbines fitted with these blades showed improved energy extraction and decreased turbulence intensity behind the rotor, making them especially effective in DRWT setups. The results validated the benefits of the humpback blade design in dual rotor systems, where the new design enhanced the lift-to-drag ratio in both upwind and downwind positions, resulting in higher overall energy output than turbines with standard blades. As a result, different configurations of the DRWT have been tested and examined. The proposed configuration with a humpback rotor in the downwind position resulted in a increase in the lift-to-drag ratio. Similarly, employing a humpback rotor in the upwind position improved the lift-to-drag ratio by . These enhancements lead to greater energy extraction from DRWTs compared to those with standard blades under the same study conditions.
期刊介绍:
Energy Science & Engineering is a peer reviewed, open access journal dedicated to fundamental and applied research on energy and supply and use. Published as a co-operative venture of Wiley and SCI (Society of Chemical Industry), the journal offers authors a fast route to publication and the ability to share their research with the widest possible audience of scientists, professionals and other interested people across the globe. Securing an affordable and low carbon energy supply is a critical challenge of the 21st century and the solutions will require collaboration between scientists and engineers worldwide. This new journal aims to facilitate collaboration and spark innovation in energy research and development. Due to the importance of this topic to society and economic development the journal will give priority to quality research papers that are accessible to a broad readership and discuss sustainable, state-of-the art approaches to shaping the future of energy. This multidisciplinary journal will appeal to all researchers and professionals working in any area of energy in academia, industry or government, including scientists, engineers, consultants, policy-makers, government officials, economists and corporate organisations.