Investigation of Lift and Drag Coefficient of Air-Foil Application in Wind Turbine Electricity Generation by Computational Fluid Dynamics

This study compared the aerodynamic performance of three airfoils NACA2412, NACA4412, and NACA6412 for potential use in wind turbine blade design. Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) with identical boundary conditions and mesh settings, simulations were performed across various angles of attack (0°–10°) and wind speeds (3, 5, and 8 m/s). The analysis evaluated lift coefficient (CL), drag coefficient (CD), the lift-to-drag ratio (CL/CD), and the electrical power output. Results revealed that all airfoils followed a similar trend in aerodynamic behavior, but NACA 4412 consistently outperformed the others, showing higher lift, lower drag, and the most favorable CL/CD ratio—particularly at an attack angle of 6° and wind speed of 3 m/s. Estimated power output based on simulation assumptions (e.g., wind speed, blade geometry, and incompressible flow) suggests potential advantages of cambered airfoils over symmetrical profiles. These findings offer insights for optimizing airfoil selection in small-scale wind energy systems.