Análise estrutural preliminar da pá de um gerador eólico

Abstract

In the context of the ever-increasing rise of renewable energy sources worldwide, wind turbines play a fundamental role in this ascent and, consequently, in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, structural improvements in the main components of the system are increasingly necessary to enhance durability, aerodynamic efficiency, and operational reliability. In this scenario, more resistant wind turbine blades can contribute, for example, to: coping with adverse weather conditions, reducing maintenance costs, and optimizing the overall energy efficiency of the system. In this way, it is possible to contribute to the increased economic viability of wind energy generation and, consequently, to environmental sustainability. Considering these factors, computational analyses and simulations involving the internal and external structure of these blades are crucial for determining the behavior of these components. Given the extreme operational conditions to which the system is subjected, these studies can predict possible fractures or even avoid over-dimensioning the component. This work is set in this context, aiming to conduct a comparative study of different structural configurations applied to the construction of wind turbine blades. Using the Phase VI wind turbine, publicly available from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) of the United States, as a starting point, four different structures commonly used in the construction of the component are modeled in CAD software and subjected to analyses through computational simulations. The structural behavior of each model is evaluated under the corresponding operational loads. Parameters such as weight, economic cost, maximum tip deflection, and vibration modes of each model are considered for the comparative study. SOLIDWORKS software is used for the three-dimensional CAD construction of the models, while the simulations are performed using HYPERMESH software. Additionally, QBLADE software is used to obtain specific airfoil parameters, such as drag and lift coefficients. The objective of this work is to evaluate the results obtained for the proposed structural models based on the mentioned evaluation parameters and to select the one considered most adequate and structurally viable given the external conditions and the scale of the operation. In this way, the aim is to contribute to the continuous viability of wind energy generation in Brazil and worldwide by providing principles that will guide the selection of the most suitable structural configuration for components analogous to the study.