Ms. Selig et Vl. Coverstonecarroll, APPLICATION OF A GENETIC ALGORITHM TO WIND TURBINE DESIGN, Journal of offshore mechanics and Arctic engineering, 118(1), 1996, pp. 22-28
This paper presents an optimization method for stall-regulated horizon
tal-axis wind turbines. A hybrid approach is used that combines the ad
vantages of a genetic algorithm with an inverse design method This met
hod is used to determine the optimum blade pitch and blade chord and t
wist distributions that maximize the annual energy production. To illu
strate the method, a family of 25 wind turbines was designed to examin
e the sensitivity of annual energy production to changes in the rotor
blade length and peak rotor power. Trends are revealed that should aid
in the design of new rotors for existing turbines. la the second appl
ication, five wind turbines were designed to determine the benefits of
specifically tailoring wind turbine blades for the average wind speed
at a particular site. The results have important practical implicatio
ns related to rotors designed for the Midwestern US versus those where
the average wind speed may be greater.