Title
Wind Turbine Blade Redesign Study
Document Type
Presentation
Publication Date
4-12-2010
Faculty Sponsor
Dr. James Ferguson
Abstract
Our project is to research the possibility of creating wind turbine blades at half of the current cost (the current cost is $6000) and with a relatively low production. PowerWorks currently needs 300 blades and approximates they will need 75 more each year for the next ten years. The ideas that were researched to reduce cost included changing the material as well as the manufacturing process. We estimated stress data on the blades using SolidWorks, simplified the internal structure to an I-beam, and then utilized excel to determine an acceptable thicknesses of the web and flange. Final results will be compared and assessed based upon cost, structural strength, and manufacturing feasibility.