Shape Optimization Design of Vortex Generator Suitable for Wind Turbine Airfoil

Currently, the vortex generators applied to the airfoil of wind turbine blades are mostly right-angled triangles. However, the effect of the right-angled triangular vortex generators on improving the aerodynamic performance of the airfoil is not necessarily the best. A design optimization method for vortex generator shape was proposed to select the vortex generator shape with the best aerodynamic performance efficiently and quickly. In this method, the NACA4418 airfoil is chosen as the research object, the lift coefficients of airfoils with triangular vortex generators with different angles are obtained through wind tunnel pressure test of airfoil segment model, the distribution law of lift coefficient of various airfoils is analyzed, fit the lift coefficient curve of an airfoil with vortex generators with different angles, compare several lift coefficient curves, and then select the best vortex generator shape suitable for this airfoil. The formula for calculating the lift coefficient fitted by this method is applied to other airfoils. Comparative analysis shows that the airfoil with a similar thickness to the NACA4418 airfoil can be calculated using this method, and we can obtain the best vortex generator shape.