Multi-element airfoil configuration for HAWT: A novel slot design for improved aerodynamic performance

Wind energy has a vast potential to provide low-carbon energy in the future. However, to improve the wind turbine blade efficiency, longer blades are being manufactured, which causes expensive production, complicated logistics and structural instability. For good structural integrity, the root airfoils are kept thicker, which brings unsteady aerodynamic characteristics to the inboard region of the blade. Therefore, multi-element airfoil configuration is introduced. In the present study, DU-99-W-405 airfoil is chosen, and a 2D CFD analysis is performed using ANSYS Fluent. Novel slot design shows the increment in lift coefficient with the angle of attack, which helped delay the stall.