MA
M.J. Argibay Chapela
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Master thesis
(2026)
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M.J. Argibay Chapela, Delphine De Tavernier, G.S. Popi, Simon Watson, Michiel Zaayer
This MSc thesis investigates the potential of two-dimensional trailing edge airfoil morphing to compensate for temporary sectional power losses caused by inflow variations occurring faster than the global controller response of a wind turbine. A quasi-steady inverse-tracking optimization framework is developed for the FFA-W3-241 airfoil at a representative section of the IEA 15 MW reference wind turbine. The airfoil is represented using a cubic B-spline and modified through two coordinated trailing edge morphing modes controlling camber with a flap like deformation and thickness variations while preserving a protected wingbox region. Candidate geometries are evaluated using XFOIL coupled to a single annulus Blade Element Momentum model and optimized using Particle Swarm Optimization. The objective is to reproduce the sectional power of the baseline airfoil operating at the optimal tip speed ratio while the candidate rotor speed remains fixed. An offline database of 36 optimized geometries is generated for inflow velocities from 7.0 to 10.5m\s, staying in region 2 below rated conditions. The optimized airfoils closely track the target power throughout this range, with a maximum deviation of approximately 0.63kW\m. When tested against an OpenFAST, TurbSim turbulent inflow signal, the database increases the mean sectional power by 0.683 relative to the fixed speed baseline and recovers 74.51 of the mean sectional power deficit with respect to the ideal, optimal tip speed ratio response. The results demonstrate the aerodynamic potential of offline airfoil morphing for local power recovery.
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This MSc thesis investigates the potential of two-dimensional trailing edge airfoil morphing to compensate for temporary sectional power losses caused by inflow variations occurring faster than the global controller response of a wind turbine. A quasi-steady inverse-tracking optimization framework is developed for the FFA-W3-241 airfoil at a representative section of the IEA 15 MW reference wind turbine. The airfoil is represented using a cubic B-spline and modified through two coordinated trailing edge morphing modes controlling camber with a flap like deformation and thickness variations while preserving a protected wingbox region. Candidate geometries are evaluated using XFOIL coupled to a single annulus Blade Element Momentum model and optimized using Particle Swarm Optimization. The objective is to reproduce the sectional power of the baseline airfoil operating at the optimal tip speed ratio while the candidate rotor speed remains fixed. An offline database of 36 optimized geometries is generated for inflow velocities from 7.0 to 10.5m\s, staying in region 2 below rated conditions. The optimized airfoils closely track the target power throughout this range, with a maximum deviation of approximately 0.63kW\m. When tested against an OpenFAST, TurbSim turbulent inflow signal, the database increases the mean sectional power by 0.683 relative to the fixed speed baseline and recovers 74.51 of the mean sectional power deficit with respect to the ideal, optimal tip speed ratio response. The results demonstrate the aerodynamic potential of offline airfoil morphing for local power recovery.