A comparative numerical study of four turbulence models for the prediction of horizontal axis wind turbine flow

Author(s):  
N S Tachos ◽  
A E Filios ◽  
D P Margaris

The analysis of the near and far flow fields of an experimental National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) rotor, which has been used as the reference rotor for the Viscous and Aeroelastic Effects on Wind Turbine Blades (VISCEL) research program of the European Union, is described. The horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) flow is obtained by solving the steady-state Reynolds-averaged Navier—Stokes (RANS) equations, which are combined with one of four turbulence models (Spalart—Allmaras, k—∊, k—∊ renormalization group, and k—ω shear stress transport (SST)) aiming at validation of these models through a comparison of the predictions and the free field experimental measurements for the selected rotor. The computational domain is composed of 4.2×106 cells merged in a structured way, taking care of refinement of the grid near the rotor blade in order to enclose the boundary layer approach. The constant wind condition 7.2 m/s, which is the velocity of the selected experimental data, is considered in all calculations, and only the turbulence model is altered. It is confirmed that it is possible to analyse a HAWT rotor flow field with the RANS equations and that there is good agreement with experimental results, especially when they are combined with the k—ω SST turbulence model.

Author(s):  
Tom Gerhard ◽  
Michael Sturm ◽  
Thomas H. Carolus

State-of-the-art wind turbine performance prediction is mainly based on semi-analytical models, incorporating blade element momentum (BEM) analysis and empirical models. Full numerical simulation methods can yield the performance of a wind turbine without empirical assumptions. Inherent difficulties are the large computational domain required to capture all effects of the unbounded ambient flow field and the fact that the boundary layer on the blade may be transitional. A modified turbine design method in terms of the velocity triangles, Euler’s turbine equation and BEM is developed. Lift and drag coefficients are obtained from XFOIL, an open source 2D design and analysis tool for subcritical airfoils. A 3 m diameter horizontal axis wind turbine rotor was designed and manufactured. The flow field is predicted by means of a Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes simulation. Two turbulence models were utilized: (i) a standard k-ω-SST model, (ii) a laminar/turbulent transition model. The manufactured turbine is placed on the rooftop of the University of Siegen. Three wind anemometers and wind direction sensors are arranged around the turbine. The torque is derived from electric power and the rotational speed via a calibrated grid-connected generator. The agreement between the analytically and CFD-predicted kinematic quantities up- and downstream of the rotor disc is quite satisfactory. However, the blade section drag to lift ratio and hence the power coefficient vary with the turbulence model chosen. Moreover, the experimentally determined power coefficient is considerably lower as predicted by all methods. However, this conclusion is somewhat preliminary since the existing experimental data set needs to be extended.


Author(s):  
Ayse Sapmaz ◽  
Gizem D. Acar ◽  
Brian F. Feeny

Abstract This paper is on a simplified model of an in-plane blade-hub dynamics of a horizontal-axis wind turbine with a mistuned blade. The model has cyclic parametric and direct excitation due to gravity and aerodynamics. This work follows up a previous perturbation study applied to the blade equations written in the rotor-angle domain and decoupled from the hub, in which superharmonic and primary resonances were analyzed. In this work, the effects of mistuning, damping, and forcing level are illustrated. The first-order perturbation solutions are verified with comparisons to numerical simulations at superharmonic resonance of order two. Additionally, the effect of rotor loading on the rotor speed and blade amplitudes is investigated for different initial conditions and mistuning cases.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011.16 (0) ◽  
pp. 359-362
Author(s):  
Toshiyuki ASO ◽  
Katsuya IIDA ◽  
Tomoyuki AIDA ◽  
Akihiro UNNO ◽  
Yuuki HAYASHI ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Masami Suzuki

In designing a wind turbine, the validation of the mathematical model’s result is normally carried out by comparison with wind tunnel experiment data. However, the Reynolds number of the wind tunnel experiment is low, and the flow does not match fully developed turbulence on the leading edge of a wind turbine blade. Therefore, the transition area from laminar to turbulent flow becomes wide under these conditions, and the separation point is difficult to predict using turbulence models. The prediction precision decreases dramatically when working with tip speed ratios less than the maximum power point. This study carries out a steadiness calculation with turbulence model and an unsteadiness calculation with laminar model for a three-blade horizontal axis wind turbine. The validation of the calculations is performed by comparing with experimental results. The power coefficients calculated without turbulence models are in agreement with the experimental data for a tip speed ratio greater than 5.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 261-266
Author(s):  
Le Quang Sang ◽  
Takao Maeda ◽  
Yasunari Kamada

The Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWT) are used very popular in the world. They were installed mainly on land. However, on the land, the wind regime change is very complex such as high turbulence and constantly changing wind direction. In the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61400-1 standard, the wind regime is devided into the normal wind conditions and the extreme wind conditions. This study will focus on the extreme wind direction change and estimate the aerodynamic forces acting on a 3-bladed HAWT under this condition. Because the extreme wind direction change may cause extreme loads and it will affect the lifetime of HAWTs. This issue is experimented in the wind tunnel in Mie University, Japan to understand these effects. The wind turbine model is the 3-bladed HAWT type and using Avistar airfoil for making blades. A 6-component balance is used to measure the forces and the moments acting on the entire wind turbine in the three directions of x, y and z-axes. This study estimates the load fluctuation of the 3-bladed wind turbine under extreme wind direction change. The results show that the yaw moment and the pitch moment under the extreme wind direction change fluctuate larger than the normal wind condition. Specifically, before the sudden wind direction change happened, the averaged maximum pitch moment MX is -1.78 Nm, and after that MX is 4.45 Nm at inrush azimuth of 0°.©2019. CBIORE-IJRED. All rights reserved


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