NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF AERODYNAMIC PERFORMANCE OF S-SERIES AEROFOILS FOR LOW-SPEED WIND TURBINE APPLICATIONS

Muhammad Punhal Sahto; Syed Nasir Mehdi Gardezi; Muhammad Hassan; Arfa; Ali Nawaz Sanjrani; Maryam Khan; Hussain Gardezi; M. Waleed Sikandar

doi:10.71146/kjmr871

Authors

Muhammad Punhal Sahto Mechanical Engineering Department NFC Institute of Engineering & Technology, Multan, Pakistan. Author
Syed Nasir Mehdi Gardezi Mechanical Engineering Department NFC Institute of Engineering & Technology, Multan, Pakistan. Author
Muhammad Hassan Mechanical Engineering Department NFC Institute of Engineering & Technology, Multan, Pakistan. Author
Arfa Mechanical Engineering Department NFC Institute of Engineering & Technology, Multan, Pakistan. Author
Ali Nawaz Sanjrani Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, MUET, SZAB Campus, Khairpur Mir’s, Sindh, Pakistan. Author
Maryam Khan Mechanical Engineering Department NFC Institute of Engineering & Technology, Multan, Pakistan. Author
Hussain Gardezi Mechanical Engineering Department NFC Institute of Engineering & Technology, Multan, Pakistan. Author
M. Waleed Sikandar Mechanical Engineering Department NFC Institute of Engineering & Technology, Multan, Pakistan. Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71146/kjmr871

Keywords:

S-series airfoils, CFD, ANSYS Fluent, ANSYS CFX, wind turbine, aerodynamic performance, lift coefficient, drag coefficient, angle of attack, Pakistan wind energy

Abstract

Pakistan possesses a massive, untapped wind potential of over 346 GW along its coastal belt; however, average wind speeds remain moderate 5–7 m/s, leading to low efficiency in standard turbine designs. This study presents a comprehensive numerical evaluation of four S-series airfoils (S818, S825, S826, and S828) to identify the optimal geometry for these specific conditions. Using ANSYS Fluent for 2D analysis and ANSYS CFX for 3D cascade behavior, the airfoils were tested at angles of attack from -5° to 10° at flow velocities representing Pakistan's coastal profile. Results indicate that while S818 suffers from premature flow separation at low speeds, the S828 airfoil demonstrates superior aerodynamic efficiency and stall resistance. A multi-criteria decision matrix confirms S828 as the most suitable candidate 95% efficiency score for localized small-scale wind energy systems. These findings offer a data-driven selection framework for manufacturers looking to localize wind technology in South Asian low-wind-speed corridors.

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