Wind turbine blades are the core components responsible for converting wind energy into electrical energy; their design directly impacts turbine performance and serves as a primary benchmark for evaluating the design and technological sophistication of wind turbine units.
As a central component of wind power generation, the blade performs the critical task of converting wind energy into electricity, and the quality of its design directly determines the turbine's performance and economic efficiency. Wind turbine blades operate based on aerodynamic principles; shaped similarly to aircraft wings, they generate a difference in airflow velocity and air pressure between their upper and lower surfaces when wind flows over them, creating aerodynamic forces that drive the blade to rotate. Currently, the mainstream wind turbine type is the lift-based turbine; characterized by the utilization of lift forces, these turbines feature slender blades with small frontal areas, facilitating the design of large-scale units and offering superior power stability when connected to the grid.
In terms of shape and characteristics, wind turbine blades can be categorized into straight blades, twisted blades, and blades designed for doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) turbines. Based on the axis of rotation, they are classified into horizontal-axis and vertical-axis wind turbine blades. Regarding materials, options include wood and fabric-covered blades, fiberglass blades, and carbon fiber composite blades; large-scale wind turbines predominantly utilize fiberglass or carbon fiber composites.
Mainstream wind turbines employ a three-blade design. This configuration effectively addresses rotor balance issues, improves load distribution, and reduces vibration and noise, while maintaining efficient and stable operational performance even at high wind speeds . Single-blade and two-blade designs have limited application due to issues regarding balance or stability [9].
