Optimization of parameters affecting the performance of wind turbine blade using grey relational analysis

In today's scenario the entire world is facing many problems related to excessive use of conventional energy resources. Wind energy is better alternative to be used in place of conventional sources of energy. But, the blade of wind turbine is the critical component to design because number of parameters has influence on its performance. So, the objective of this work is to optimize those parameters. In order to achieve this Grey relational analysis (GRA) was used. GRA provides a performance index grey relational grade (GRG), which is used to optimize the affecting parameter obtained under different twist distribution for various loading conditions. Displacements of wind turbine blade in x and y-directions were selected as quality characteristics. Using these characteristics, the affecting parameters including twist, taper, shear web and airfoils were optimized. The results obtained from GRA signifies the optimal parameter settings required corresponding to desired quality characteristics i.e. corresponding to minimum displacements in x and y-direction respectively.