Experimental Investigation of Flow over NACA 2412 Wind Turbine Blade Profile in an Open-Type Subsonic Wind Tunnel

On March 16th , 2023, Research and Consultancy Committee arranged a presentation to discuss the research outcomes of NACA 2412 turbine blade testing using the Wind Tunnel facility available in the Engineering research lab. This presentation was aimed at providing the audience with an insight into how this type of testing can be used to optimize wind turbine blades for maximum efficiency. Dr. Arthur Davis Nicholas has presented part of the outcomes of TRC funded research project under the title, “Experimental Investigation of Flow over a NACA 2412 Wind Turbine Blade Profile in an Open Subsonic Wind Tunnel”. In his presentation, he has elaborated Testing of Wind Turbine Blades, Geometry Optimization, Linearizing Blade Chord, Blade Twist Distribution and Aerodynamic Performance of Wind Turbine Blades. He specifically explained how different parameters affect the aerodynamic performance of a NACA 2412 wind turbine blade profile with BETZ law basics and Coefficients. The presenter clarified various aspects such as Reynolds number effects, Mach number effects, and angle of attack effects on the lift and drag coefficients. Furthermore, details on how to examine the effect of blade geometry optimization on overall aerodynamic performance were also elaborated. Finally, the presenter discussed the results obtained from the research experiments and suggested ways to design these types of turbine blades.