Regular Article

Energy optimization through morphing blade design under structural constraints: a case study on the NREL 1.5 MW wind turbine

Department of Aerospace Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), No. 350, Hafez Street, Valiasr Square, Tehran 15875-4413, Iran

^* Corresponding author: ajahan@aut.ac.ir

Received: 4 December 2024
Accepted: 6 May 2025

Abstract

This study explores a novel morphing blade design methodology to enhance the aerodynamic performance of the NREL 1.5 MW wind turbine while addressing structural constraints. The proposed approach applies targeted morphing to the leading and trailing edges of the blade sections, utilizing a streamlined parameterization framework with four shape variables per airfoil: two deflection angles and two deformation starting points. The morphing process is modeled using an m-degree shape function and optimized through a Genetic Algorithm (GA) to maximize power generation while minimizing structural displacement and thrust forces. Turbine performance is initially assessed using Blade Element Momentum (BEM) theory and validated through high-fidelity Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations based on the Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations and the k-ω turbulence model. Results demonstrate significant power coefficient improvements of up to 23.8%, 10%, and 7% at wind speeds of 11.5 m/s, 8 m/s, and 4 m/s, respectively, compared to the baseline configuration. These findings underline the potential of morphing blade technologies to enhance energy efficiency in wind turbines while adhering to practical structural limitations.