Confinement effects in wind-turbine and propeller measurements

2014 ◽  
Vol 756 ◽  
pp. 110-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Segalini ◽  
Pieter Inghels
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Test Section ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Iterative Scheme ◽  
Power Coefficient ◽  
Stream Velocity ◽  
Tip Vortices ◽  
Vortex Model ◽  
Flow Modification ◽  
Novel Approach

AbstractA new model to account for the presence of the test-section wall in wind-turbine or propeller measurements is proposed. The test section, here assumed to be cylindrical, is modelled by means of axisymmetric source panels, while the wind turbine (or the propeller) is modelled with a simplified vortex model (Segalini & Alfredsson, J. Fluid Mech., vol. 725, 2013, pp. 91–116). Combining both models in an iterative scheme allows the simulation of the effect of the test-section wall on the flow field around the rotor. Based on this novel approach, an analysis of the flow modification due to blockage is conducted together with a comparison of actuator-disk theory results. Glauert’s concept of equivalent unconfined turbine is reviewed and extended to account for the angular velocity of the rotor. It is shown that Glauert’s equivalent free-stream velocity concept is beneficial and can correct most of the systematic error introduced by the presence of the test-section wall, although some discrepancies remain, especially in the power coefficient. The effect of the confinement on the wake structure is also discussed in terms of wake expansion/contraction, pitch of the tip vortices and forces at the rotor.

Numerical Analysis of Blockage Ratio Effect on a Portable Hydrokinetic Turbine

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cosan Daskiran ◽  
Jacob Riglin ◽  
Alparslan Oztekin
Keyword(s):  
Free Stream ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Turbine Rotor ◽  
Power Coefficient ◽  
Stream Velocity ◽  
Blockage Ratio ◽  
Ratio Effect ◽  
Turbine Performance ◽  
Hydrokinetic Turbine

Three-dimensional steady state Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analyses were performed for a pre-designed micro-hydrokinetic turbine to investigate the blockage ratio effect on turbine performance. Simulations were conducted using a physical turbine rotor geometry rather than low fidelity, simplified actuator disk or actuator lines. The two-equation k-ω Shear Stress Transport (SST) turbulence model was employed to predict turbulence in the flow field. The turbine performance at the best efficiency point was studied for blockage ratios of 0.49, 0.70 and 0.98 for three different free stream velocities of 2.0 m/s, 2.25 m/s and 2.5 m/s. Distinct blockage ratio results at a free stream velocity of 2.25 were compared to a previous numerical study incorporating the same rotor geometry within an infinite flowing medium. The pressure gradient between turbine upstream and turbine downstream for blocked channel flows elevated the turbine performance. The increment in blockage ratio from 0.03 to 0.98 enhanced power coefficient from 0.437 to 2.254 and increased power generation from 0.56 kW to 2.86 kW for the present study.

Including Swirl in the Actuator Disk Analysis of Wind Turbines

2007 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 317-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.H. Wood
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Vortex Structure ◽  
General Model ◽  
Power Coefficient ◽  
Speed Ratio ◽  
Core Radius ◽  
Simple Analysis ◽  
Tip Speed Ratio ◽  
Vortex Model ◽  
Actuator Disk

It is shown that the presence of swirl in the wake of a wind turbine complicates the simple actuator disk analysis that provides such basic results as the Lanchester-Betz limit on the power coefficient. The simple analysis remains valid at high tip speed ratio for a sufficiently small core radius of the hub vortex. As the tip speed ratio decreases, the present analysis eventually becomes invalid. It is, however, reasonable to conclude that including the effects of the hub vortex causes the maximum power coefficient to increase above the Lanchester-Betz limit with decreasing tip speed ratio. The extent to which this conclusion depends on the assumed vortex model was investigated briefly by considering a more general model for the hub vortex. The results strongly imply that some account of the vortex structure of the wake will be required to resolve fully the effects of swirl. Unfortunately there are no measurements currently available for the hub vortex.

Experimental Study on Performance of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine with NACA 4-Digital Series of Blades

2012 ◽  
Vol 488-489 ◽  
pp. 1055-1061 ◽  
Author(s):  
W.C. Hsieh ◽  
J.M. Miao ◽  
C.C. Lai ◽  
C.S. Tai
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Output Power ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Rotation Speed ◽  
Vertical Axis ◽  
Free Stream Velocity ◽  
Stream Velocity ◽  
Test Model ◽  
Vertical Axis Wind Turbine ◽  
Blade Section

The experimental studies of output power performances of a vertical-axis-wind-turbine (VAWT) had been conducted in suction-type low speed wind tunnel with various free stream velocity. Torque and rotation speed of blades were measured by using torque meter and optical detector to analyze the effect of blade-section shape on the performance of wind turbine. The test model of experiments in the research was H-rotor VAWT. Three shapes of the NACA 4-digital series blade-section, NACA0022, NACA6404, and NACA6422 were taken in this work. Effects of thickness and camber of blade-section, blade numbers, and blade setting angles on the performance of VAWT have been analyzed in detail. The results show that NACA6422 blade-section has rotation speed of 42% higher than that of NACA0022 when the free stream velocity is below 12 m/s and the blade numbers are 4-blade type. Wind turbines with NACA6422 blades also showed that about 10% higher output power than that of NACA0022 blades among the tested range of free stream velocity. Results indicated that wind turbine with blades of anti-symmetric and thick blade-section was generally more suitable for applying to VAWT. All results of this study can be used the optimization design of VAWT blades in further.

scholarly journals Experimental Study of the Performance of a Novel Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 2902
Author(s):  
James Agbormbai ◽  
Weidong Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Pressure Difference ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Vertical Axis ◽  
Inviscid Flow ◽  
Momentum Equation ◽  
Power Coefficient ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Vertical Axis Wind Turbine ◽  
Bernoulli’S Equation

Basic equations for estimating the aerodynamic power captured by the Anderson vertical-axis wind turbine (AVAWT) are derived from a solution of Navier–Stokes (N–S) equations for a baroclinic inviscid flow. In a nutshell, the pressure difference across the AVAWT is derived from the Bernoulli’s equation—an upshot of the integration of the Euler’s momentum equation, which is the N–S momentum equation for a baroclinic inviscid flow. The resulting expression for the pressure difference across the AVAWT rotor is plotted as a function of the free-stream speed. Experimentally determined airstream speeds at the AVAWT inlet and outlet, coupled with corresponding free-stream speeds, are used in estimating the aerodynamic power captured. The aerodynamic power of the AVAWT is subsequently used in calculating its aerodynamic power coefficient. The actual power coefficient is calculated from the power generated by the AVAWT at various free-stream speeds and plotted as a function of the latter. Experimental results show that at all free-stream speeds and tip-speed ratios, the aerodynamic power coefficient of the AVAWT is higher than its actual power coefficient. Consequently, the power generated by the AVAWT prototype is lower than the aerodynamic power captured, given the same inflow wind conditions. Besides the foregoing, the main purpose of this experiment is to investigate the technical feasibility of the AVAWT. This proof of concept enables the inventor to commercialize the AVAWT.

scholarly journals Development of a Computational System to Improve Wind Farm Layout, Part I: Model Validation and Near Wake Analysis

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 940 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Rodrigues ◽  
Corinne Lengsfeld
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Pitch Angle ◽  
Wind Farm ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Free Stream Velocity ◽  
Speed Ratio ◽  
Stream Velocity ◽  
Near Wake ◽  
Tip Speed Ratio ◽  
Wind Farm Layout

The first part of this work describes the validation of a wind turbine farm Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation using literature velocity wake data from the MEXICO (Model Experiments in Controlled Conditions) experiment. The work is intended to establish a computational framework from which to investigate wind farm layout, seeking to validate the simulation and identify parameters influencing the wake. A CFD model was designed to mimic the MEXICO rotor experimental conditions and simulate new operating conditions with regards to tip speed ratio and pitch angle. The validation showed that the computational results qualitatively agree with the experimental data. Considering the designed tip speed ratio (TSR) of 6.6, the deficit of velocity in the wake remains at rate of approximately 15% of the free-stream velocity per rotor diameter regardless of the free-stream velocity applied. Moreover, analysis of a radial traverse right behind the rotor showed an increase of 20% in the velocity deficit as the TSR varied from TSR = 6 to TSR = 10, corresponding to an increase ratio of approximately 5% m·s−1 per dimensionless unit of TSR. We conclude that the near wake characteristics of a wind turbine are strongly influenced by the TSR and the pitch angle.

Enhancement of a horizontal axis wind turbine airfoil performance using single dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuator

2020 ◽  
pp. 095765092093602
Author(s):  
Mohaddeseh Fadaei ◽  
Ali R Davari ◽  
Fereidoun Sabetghadam ◽  
Mohammad R Soltani
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Dielectric Barrier Discharge ◽  
Discharge Plasma ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Barrier Discharge ◽  
Plasma Actuator ◽  
Stream Velocity ◽  
Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma ◽  
Dielectric Barrier ◽  
Barrier Discharge Plasma

Wind turbines are of the most promising devices to cut down carbon emissions. However, some phenomena that adversely affect their performance are inevitable. The aim of the present paper is to investigate flow separation prevention exploiting leading edge (LE) single dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuator (SDBD-PA) on an airfoil belonging to a section of a locally developed wind turbine. The numerical results of the surface pressure distribution over the airfoil were compared with the experimental measurements carried out by the authors on the same blade section, and good agreement was found between numerical and experimental data for both plasma-OFF and plasma-ON cases. An in-depth parametric numerical investigation was then carried out to provide a better understanding of the flow behavior affected by the activation of PA over the same airfoil at post stall angle of attacks (AOAs). According to the results, the frequency and voltage of actuation, AOA, and free stream velocity are shown to have strong impacts on separation delay and actuation effectiveness. In Reynolds number of 2.85 × 105, the maximum PA effectiveness takes place at 21° which is approximately 312%, 307%, and 256% corresponding to the PA location of LE, 0.02 chord, and 0.15 chord, respectively. Also, maximum velocity of the domain is increased three times of the free stream velocity on average for three investigated Reynolds numbers at the frequency and voltage of 12 kHz and 12 kV, respectively. Furthermore, the size of the wake area noticeably contracts due to the presence of the SDBD-PA. The results clearly indicate that the lift and drag coefficients as well as the lift-to-drag ratio fit a linear variation pattern with the frequency of actuation. The variation rate of the aforementioned parameters becomes steeper as the peak voltage of actuation increases. Highly nonlinear aerodynamic responses and significant interactions were demonstrated between the investigated parameters.

scholarly journals Far-wake meandering induced by atmospheric eddies in flow past a wind turbine

2018 ◽  
Vol 846 ◽  
pp. 190-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. Mao ◽  
J. N. Sørensen
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Strouhal Number ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Wind Farms ◽  
Free Stream Velocity ◽  
Immersed Boundary ◽  
Stream Velocity ◽  
Actuator Disc

A novel algorithm is developed to calculate the nonlinear optimal boundary perturbations in three-dimensional incompressible flow. An optimal step length in the optimization loop is calculated without any additional calls to the Navier–Stokes equations. The algorithm is applied to compute the optimal inflow eddies for the flow around a wind turbine to clarify the mechanisms behind wake meandering, a phenomenon usually observed in wind farms. The turbine is modelled as an actuator disc using an immersed boundary method with the loading prescribed as a body force. At Reynolds number (based on free-stream velocity and turbine radius) $Re=1000$, the most energetic inflow perturbation has a frequency $\unicode[STIX]{x1D714}=0.8$–2, and is in the form of an azimuthal wave with wavenumber $m=1$ and the same radius as the actuator disc. The inflow perturbation is amplified by the strong shear downstream of the edge of the disc and then tilts the rolling-up vortex rings to induce wake meandering. This mechanism is verified by studying randomly perturbed flow at $Re\leqslant 8000$. At five turbine diameters downstream of the disc, the axial velocity oscillates at a magnitude of more than 60 % of the free-stream velocity when the magnitude of the inflow perturbation is 6 % of the free-stream wind speed. The dominant Strouhal number of the wake oscillation is 0.16 at $Re=3000$ and keeps approximately constant at higher $Re$. This Strouhal number agrees well with previous experimental findings. Overall the observations indicate that the well-observed stochastic wake meandering phenomenon appearing far downstream of wind turbines is induced by large-scale (the same order as the turbine rotor) and low-frequency free-stream eddies.

scholarly journals Experimental Study of the Performance of A Novel Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Agbormbai ◽  
Weidong Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Pressure Difference ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Vertical Axis ◽  
Inviscid Flow ◽  
Momentum Equation ◽  
Power Coefficient ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Wind Condition ◽  
Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

The basic equation for estimating the aerodynamic power captured by an Anderson Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (AVAWT) is a solution of the Navier-Stokes(N-S) equations for a baroclinic, inviscid flow. In a nutshell, the pressure difference across the AVAWT is derived from Bernoulli’s equation; an upshot of the integration of the N-S momentum equation for a baroclinic inviscid flow, Euler’s momentum equation. The resulting expression for the pressure difference across the AVAWT rotor is plotted as a function of freestream speed. Experimentally determined airstream speeds at the AVAWT inlet and outlet, coupled with corresponding freestream speeds are used in estimating the aerodynamic power captured. The aerodynamic power is subsequently used in calculating the aerodynamic power coefficient of the AVAWT. The actual power coefficient is calculated from the power generated by the AVAWT at various free stream speeds and plotted as a function of the latter. Experimental results show that, at all free stream speeds and tip speed ratios, the aerodynamic power coefficient is higher than the actual power coefficient of the AVAWT. Consequently, the power generated by the AVAWT prototype is lower than the aerodynamic power captured, given the same inflow wind condition.

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