Implementation of Computational Methods to Obtain Accurate Induction Factors for Offshore Wind Turbines
Most of the wind turbine analysis softwares widely being used in the market are based on the Blade Element Momentum method (BEM). The two important parameters that the BEM codes calculate are the axial and the tangential induction factors. These factors are calculated based on the empirical blade lift coefficient Cl and drag coefficient Cd along with some loss/correction functions to account for the losses near the blade tip and the hub. The current study focusses on verifying the values of induction factors using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations for floating offshore wind turbines at a selected sea state. The study includes steady state calculations as well as transient calculations for pitching motions of the turbine due to waves. The NREL FAST software is used to set the simulation scenarios according to OC3 Phase IV cases. The blades are divided a number of elements in CFD calculations and the data are extracted at individual elements to have an exact comparison with the BEM based calculations.