A Comparative Unsteady Aerodynamic Analysis of NACA 4412, 23012, and 63415 Airfoils: Effects of Rotational Speed and Reynolds Number

Abstract

A wind turbine's blade section is essential for capturing wind energy and producing clean, renewable energy. Every turbine blade is meticulously crafted with certain aerodynamic concepts in mind, with a primary emphasis on lift and drag forces. Optimizing energy capture and guaranteeing the overall efficiency of wind power systems require an understanding of the complexities of aerodynamics in this context. Using numerical simulations carried out with Ansys Fluent software, the current study examines the aerodynamics of three airfoils—NACA-4412, NACA-23012, and NACA-63415—with an emphasis on airflow patterns and performance. The computational method comprehensively investigates the effects of rotational speeds (from 2 to 16 degrees per second) and a variety of Reynolds numbers (from 1.25e6 to 2e6) using two-dimensional unsteady simulations. The results show how operational parameters and airflow patterns interact dynamically. variations in velocity magnitude were detected, affected by rotational speeds and Reynolds numbers. These fluctuations gave further insights into flow behavior around the airfoil, such as the discovery of flow separation zones represented by velocity vectors. Analysis of lift coefficient values showed little variance concerning changes in rotational speed, indicating that 8 degrees per second is a suitable rotational speed for the cases under study. The values of the drag coefficient increased over time, with the NACA-63415 aerofoil showing the highest values. Conversely, lift coefficient values showed a rising fluctuation that peaked at a certain value before trending downward. Notably, when compared to the other aerofoils under study, the NACA 4412 aerofoil showed better aerodynamic coefficients.