Aerodynamic predicƟon of self-starƟng of a variable pitch wind turbine exposed to turbulence intensity

Abstract

This project focuses on studying the self-starƟng ability of variable pitch wind turbines when exposed to turbulent wind condiƟons. The self-starƟng phase is a criƟcal stage, as it determines whether the turbine can begin rotaƟng and generaƟng power without any external assistance, especially, in low or unstable wind environments. Our work mainly invesƟgates the aerodynamic behavior of the turbine during startup, analyzing how turbulent intensity affects its performance. We used numerical tools to simulate airflow around the blades and to understand the forces acƟng on them. ParƟcular aƩenƟon was given to how adjusƟng the blade pitch angle can improve the angle of aƩack, reduce resistance torque, and facilitate a smoother and more efficient start. The objecƟve of this study is to contribute to beƩer design strategies for wind turbines with variable pitch systems, ensuring that they can start up reliably even under challenging wind condiƟons, and ulƟmately improve their overall energy producƟon efficiency.