Experimental and numerical studies of blade roughness and fouling on marine current turbine performance

The impact of blade roughness and biofouling on the performance of a two-bladed horizontal axis marine current turbine was investigated experimentally and numerically. A 0.8 m diameter rotor (1/25th scale) with a NACA 63-618 cross section was tested in a towing tank. The torque, thrust and rotational speed were measured in the range 5 < λ < 11 (λ = tip speed ratio). Three different cases were tested: clean blades, artificially fouled blades and roughened blades. The performance of the turbine was predicted using blade element momentum theory and validated using the experimental results. The lift and drag curves necessary for the numerical model were obtained by testing a 2D NACA 63-618 aerofoil in a wind tunnel under clean and roughened conditions. The numerical model predicts the trends that were observed in the experimental data for roughened blades. The artificially fouled blades did not adversely affect turbine performance, as the vast majority of the fouling sheared off. The remaining material improved the performance by delaying stall to higher angles of attack and allowing measurements at lower λ than were attainable using the clean blades. The turbine performance was adversely affected in the case of roughened blades, with the power coefficient (C_P) versus λ curve significantly offset below that for the clean case. The maximum C_P for this condition was 0.34, compared to 0.42 for the clean condition.     

Theoretical and experimental study on the aerodynamic characteristics of a horizontal axis wind turbine

The aerodynamic performance characteristics of a horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) were investigated theoretically by an analysis involving a combination of momentum, energy and blade element theory by means of the strip element method, and experimentally by the use of a subscale demonstration model. In this study, two approaches involving combination analysis are made use of, namely, the thrust–torque and the thrust–energy methods. Although both approaches yield identical results, the latter is superior for elucidating the relationship of the kinetic energy of the flows on the blades. Scale experiments are performed with three types of wing aerofoil involving different arrangements with the free stream velocity, U_∞=0.8–4.5 m/s, and for the open type of wind tunnel with an outlet duct diameter of 0.88 m. The experimental and theoretical characteristics of the HAWT using the different three types of the HAWT blades are discussed by reference to the power, torque and thrust coefficients, C_P, C_T, C_th, and the tip speed ratio λ from the point of view of variable pitch control and fixed pitch stall control methods for the output regulation. The aeronautical characteristics predicted by means of the present numerical approaches, for large units involving large power generation at high efficiency, are discussed, and it is clear how to obtain optimized design parameters that play a significant role in the overall performance.     

Model improvements for evaluating the effect of tower tilting on the aerodynamics of a vertical axis wind turbine

If a vertical axis wind turbine is mounted offshore on a semi‐submersible, the pitch motion of the platform will dominate the static pitch and dynamic motion of the platform and wind turbine such that the effect of tower tilting on the aerodynamics of the vertical axis wind turbine should be investigated to more accurately predict the aerodynamic loads. This paper proposes certain modifications to the double multiple‐streamtube (DMS) model to include the component of wind speed parallel to the rotating shaft. The model is validated against experimental data collected on an H‐Darrieus wind turbine in skewed flow conditions. Three different dynamic stall models are also integrated into the DMS model: Gormont's model with the adaptation of Strickland, Gormont's model with the modification of Berg and the Beddoes–Leishman dynamic stall model. Both the small Sandia 17 m wind turbine and the large DeepWind 5 MW are modelled. According to the experimental data, the DMS model with the inclusion of the dynamic stall model is also well validated. On the basis of the assumption that the velocity component parallel to the rotor shaft is small in the downstream part of the rotor, the effect of tower tilting is quantified with respect to power, rotor torque, thrust force and the normal force and tangential force coefficients on the blades. Additionally, applications of Glauert momentum theory and pure axial momentum theory are compared to evaluate the effect of the velocity component parallel to the rotor shaft on the accuracy of the model. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tests on ducted and bare helical and straight blade Darrieus hydrokinetic turbines

Despite much optimistic language on commercial websites, little data is available on actual performance of hydrokinetic turbines. This paper summarises the findings of a series of tests on several Darrieus type cross flow hydrokinetic turbines (HKTs). Although this type of hydrokinetic turbine (HKT) has some advantages over axial flow turbines, fixed pitch Darrieus HKTs also have some drawbacks, including inability to self-start under load, low efficiency and shaking. Variable pitch has been suggested to increase starting torque and efficiency, ducts to increase power output and helical blades to produce smooth torque. To assess each of these modifications, tests were conducted in Australia and Canada on HKTs with fixed and variable pitch straight blades, fixed helical blades, with and without a slatted diffuser, by mounting each turbine in front of a barge and motoring through still water at speeds ranging from less than 1 m/s up to 5 m/s. The diffuser increased the power output by a factor of 3 in one configuration but considerably less in others. A reason for this finding is suggested. The maximum coefficient of performance Cp of the fixed pitch straight blade and helical turbines without a diffuser ranged from about 0.25 at 1.5 m/s down to less than 0.1 at 5 m/s, while Cp for those with a diffuser ranged from about 0.45 down to about 0.3. Fixed blade turbines, both straight and helical, exhibited low starting torque, while variable pitch turbines started easily. Considerable differences in Cp were observed for the same turbine configuration at different speeds. The turbine with fixed pitch, straight blades was found to shake violently due to cyclical hydrodynamic forces on blades, while the helical and variable pitch turbines did not shake excessively. These findings suggest that variable pitch cross flow HKTs should be further investigated.     

Computational fluid dynamics simulation of the aerodynamics of a high solidity,small‐scale vertical axis wind turbine

A computational fluid dynamics simulation was performed for a small‐scale, high solidity (σ = 0.48) H‐type Darrieus vertical axis wind turbine. Two‐dimensional unsteady Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes equations were solved for the turbine numerical model, which has a large stationary domain and smaller rotating subdomain connected by a sliding mesh interface. The simulation results were first validated against steady‐state airfoil data. The model was then used to solve for three rotating blades with constant ambient flow velocity (Re = 360,000) over numerous blade speed ratios. The high solidity and the associated low blade speed ratio and rotational speed of the turbine result in complex flow–blade interaction mechanisms. These include dynamic stall resulting in vortex shedding, vortex impingement on the source blade and significant flow momentum extraction causing reduced power production from the downstream blade pass. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Developement and verification of a performance based optimal design software for wind turbine blades

In this research, we developed software for designing the optimum shape of multi-MW wind turbine blades and analyzing the performance, and it features aerodynamic shape design, performance analysis, pitch–torque analysis and shape optimization for wind turbine blades. In order to verify the accuracy of the performance analysis results of the software developed in this research, we chose the 5 MW blade, designed by NREL, as the comparison model and compared with the analysis results of well known commercial software (GH-Bladed). The calculated performance analysis results of GH-Bladed and our software were consistent in all values of C_P in all λ ranges. Also, to confirm applicability of the optimum design module, the optimum design of the new 5 MW blade was performed using the initial design data of the comparison model and found that solidity was smaller in our design even though it produced the same output and efficiency. Through optimization of blade design, efficiency increased by 1% while the thrust coefficient decreased by 7.5%.     

A vortex model for Darrieus turbine using finite element techniques

Since 1970 several aerodynamic prediction models have been formulated for the Darrieus turbine. We can identify two families of models: stream-tube and vortex. The former needs much less computation time but the latter is more accurate. The purpose of this paper is to show a new option for modelling the aerodynamic behaviour of Darrieus turbines. The idea is to combine a classic free vortex model with a finite element analysis of the flow in the surroundings of the blades. This avoids some of the remaining deficiencies in classic vortex models. The agreement between analysis and experiment when predicting instantaneous blade forces and near wake flow behind the rotor is better than the one obtained in previous models.     

Experimental study on blade pitch angle effect on the performance of a three‐bladed vertical‐axis Darrieus hydro turbine

Because of higher concerns about increasing global warming, energy consumption and reduction of conventional energy resources and growing attention are given to renewable energy and to cross flow turbines such as the Darrieus turbine to harness water energy (water currents, reservoirs, rivers, and oceans). The aim of the experimental investigation presented in this paper is to evaluate the effect of hydro Darrieus turbine blades fixation pitch angle “i_g” on its performance. Four main sets of experimental tests were conducted for the same vertical‐axis hydro turbine model (VAHT) with four blade fixation pitch angles (i_g = ?1.75°, ?4.5°, 1.75°, and 4.5°), at various water flow velocities (V = 0.3‐0.64 m/s corresponding to a water free flow Reynolds number of 2.5 × 10⁴ to 4.36 × 10⁴). A comparison between the results of the present work and with those of a previous experimental study for i_g = 0° shows that the best performance of the tested turbine is obtained when the blades are set at a pitch angle of 1.75°. In fact, the corresponding optimum mechanical power and power coefficient relative increases are respectively as much as 82% and 67% with respect to i_g = 0° at V = 0.37 m/s and as much as 65% and 77% at V = 0.46 m/s. The worst performance is obtained for the negative blades fixation pitch angle of ?4.5°; at the water flow velocity of 0.37 m/s, this leads to power, and power coefficient relative decreases respectively about 75% and 81% with respect to the results obtained for i_g = 1.75° and respectively about 54% and 68% of those obtained in the previous work for i_g = 0°.     

垂直轴风力机变桨控制策略及气动性能影响研究

以H型Darrieus垂直轴风力机为研究对象,基于不同尖速比下攻角随相位角变化规律,提出一种俯仰角控制策略,即攻角较大时俯仰变化幅值较大,而攻角较小时幅值较小。通过数值计算了解此控制方式对气动性能的影响规律,分析变桨后不同旋转角度下风力机涡量场的变化,并讨论气动载荷变化的原因。结果表明：所提俯仰角控制策略可显著增强风力机功率系数,且尖速比较低时提升效果越显著,在TSR为1.25时功率系数提升高达146%。     

Validation of the Beddoes–Leishman dynamic stall model for horizontal axis wind turbines using MEXICO data

The aim of this study is to assess the load predicting capability of a classical Beddoes–Leishman dynamic stall model in a horizontal axis wind turbine environment, in the presence of yaw misalignment. The dynamic stall model was tailored to the horizontal axis wind turbine environment and validated against unsteady thick airfoil data. Subsequently, the dynamic stall model was implemented in a blade element‐momentum code for yawed flow, and the results were compared with aerodynamic measurements obtained in the MEXICO (Model Rotor Experiments under Controlled Conditions) project on a wind turbine rotor placed in a large scale wind tunnel. In general, reasonable to good agreement was found between the blade element‐momentum model and MEXICO data. When large yaw misalignments were imposed, poor agreement was found in the downstroke of the movement between the model and the experiment. Still, over a revolution, the maximum normal force coefficient predicted was always within 8% of experimental data at the inboard stations, which is encouraging especially when blade fatigue calculations are being considered. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modeling of the flow in a Darrieus water turbine: Wall grid refinement analysis and comparison with experiments

This paper presents some aspects concerning the 2D RANS numerical modeling of a Darrieus cross flow marine turbine. Two main features of the modeling are studied. The first deals with the influence of the near wall grid density on the numerical results. Most of the available literature concerning the occurrence of stalling foils emphasizes the need for a fine grid mesh at wall fitting y+ around the unity or less at the first near wall cell center. Nevertheless, in the case of a Darrieus turbine, the influence of this parameter has not yet been studied precisely. In particular, the exact y+ specification is not known, and its influence either on the global turbine performance or on the local flow field, has not been outlined. The present work provides insight into the y+ influence in a 2D Darrieus turbine and deals with its maximum acceptable value. The second feature concerns the ability of a 2D modeling to represent, the actual 3D flow in the turbine. The power coefficients CP are compared to those obtained in the hydrodynamic LEGI tunnel on a small scale model. The experimental power coefficients are presented with their associated precision. The comparisons show a medium tip speed ratio range around the nominal point for which the instantaneous ratio of the experimental and numerical power coefficients is a constant significantly lower than 1 regardless of the azimuthal position of the blades. This constant ratio is thought to be representative of the tip and arm-blade junctions losses.     

Modeling dynamic stall on wind turbine blades under rotationally augmented flow fields

This paper presents an investigation of two well‐known aerodynamic phenomena, rotational augmentation and dynamic stall, together in the inboard parts of wind turbine blades. This analysis is carried out using the following: (1) the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Unsteady Aerodynamics Experiment Phase VI experimental data, including constant as well as continuously pitching blade conditions during axial operation; (2) data from unsteady delayed detached eddy simulations (DDES) carried out using the Technical University of Denmark's in‐house flow solver Ellipsys3D; and (3) data from a reduced order dynamic stall model that uses rotationally augmented steady‐state polars obtained from steady Phase VI experimental sequences, instead of the traditional two‐dimensional, non‐rotating data. The aim of this work is twofold. First, the blade loads estimated by the DDES simulations are compared with three select cases of the N‐sequence experimental data, which serves as a validation of the DDES method. Results show reasonable agreement between the two data in two out of three cases studied. Second, the dynamic time series of the lift and the moment polars obtained from the experiments are compared with those from the dynamic stall model. This allowed the differences between the stall phenomenon on the inboard parts of harmonically pitching blades on a rotating wind turbine and the classic dynamic stall representation in two‐dimensional flow to be investigated. Results indicated a good qualitative agreement between the model and the experimental data in many cases, which suggests that the current two‐dimensional dynamic stall model as used in blade element momentum‐based aeroelastic codes may provide a reasonably accurate representation of three‐dimensional rotor aerodynamics when used in combination with a robust rotational augmentation model. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Design of the rotor blades of a mini hydraulic bulb-turbine

The rotor blades of a mini hydraulic turbine were designed using a quasi-three-dimensional method. The meridional flow is computed by a streamline curvature method and the blade-to-blade flow by a singularity method. The rotor blade sections are the NACA 66 (MOD) with a = 0.8 meanline. The camber and the stagger angle of the blade sections are adjusted to fulfil the prescribed angular momentum distributions, at the rotor inlet and outlet sections, and zero-incidence flow angle, at the blade leading edge.Turbine head and efficiency versus flow rate curves were obtained for different rotor blade stagger angles at constant rotational speed. Radial distributions of time-averaged velocity and pressure, measured at the rotor exit section with a five-hole probe, are also presented.The design and the experimental results are compared with three-dimensional inviscid flow numerical results computed by the FLUENT code. The domain is discretized by unstructured meshes with a maximum of 2.5 × 10⁶ elements. The numerical results show good agreement with the design values and the experimental results, validating the design hypothesis of small radial velocity in the flow through the rotor.     

Simulating the aerodynamic performance and wake dynamics of a vertical‐axis wind turbine

The accurate prediction of the aerodynamics and performance of vertical‐axis wind turbines is essential if their design is to be improved but poses a significant challenge to numerical simulation tools. The cyclic motion of the blades induces large variations in the angle of attack of the blades that can manifest as dynamic stall. In addition, predicting the interaction between the blades and the wake developed by the rotor requires a high‐fidelity representation of the vortical structures within the flow field in which the turbine operates. The aerodynamic performance and wake dynamics of a Darrieus‐type vertical‐axis wind turbine consisting of two straight blades is simulated using Brown's Vorticity Transport Model. The predicted variation with azimuth of the normal and tangential force on the turbine blades compares well with experimental measurements. The interaction between the blades and the vortices that are shed and trailed in previous revolutions of the turbine is shown to have a significant effect on the distribution of aerodynamic loading on the blades. Furthermore, it is suggested that the disagreement between experimental and numerical data that has been presented in previous studies arises because the blade–vortex interactions on the rotor were not modelled with sufficient fidelity. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

水平轴失速型风力机主动非线性控制

讨论了大型主动失速型风力机在额定工况以上时的主动非线性控制问题。直接利用所推导的仿射性非线性模型．采用微分几何精确线性化理论,实现恒速风力机全局精确线性化控制,给出了反馈控制算法,并对闭环系统进行了数字仿真。     

Open‐loop frequency response analysis of a wind turbine using a high‐order linear aeroelastic model

Wind turbine controllers are commonly designed on the basis of low‐order linear models to capture the aeroelastic wind turbine response due to control actions and disturbances. This paper characterizes the aeroelastic wind turbine dynamics that influence the open‐loop frequency response from generator torque and collective pitch control actions of a modern non‐floating wind turbine based on a high‐order linear model. The model is a linearization of a geometrically non‐linear finite beam element model coupled with an unsteady blade element momentum model of aerodynamic forces including effects of shed vorticity and dynamic stall. The main findings are that the lowest collective flap modes have limited influence on the response from generator torque to generator speed, due to large aerodynamic damping. The transfer function from collective pitch to generator speed is affected by two non‐minimum phase zeros below the frequency of the first drivetrain mode. To correctly predict the non‐minimum phase zeros, it is essential to include lateral tower and blade flap degrees of freedom. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A solution‐based stall delay model for horizontal‐axis wind turbines

This work proposes a new solution‐based stall delay model to predict rotational effects on horizontal‐axis wind turbines. In contrast to conventional stall delay models that correct sectional airfoil data prior to the solution to account for three‐dimensional and rotational effects, a novel approach is proposed that corrects sectional airfoil data during a blade element momentum solution algorithm by investigating solution‐dependent parameters such as the spanwise circulation distribution and the local flow velocity acting at a section of blade. An iterative process is employed that successively modifies sectional lift and drag data until the blade circulation distribution is converged. Results obtained with the solution‐based stall delay model show consistent good agreement with measured data along the National Renewable Energy Laboratory Phase VI and Model Experiments in Controlled Conditions rotor blades at low and high wind speeds. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New vortex‐lift and tangential‐force models for HAWT aerodynamic load prediction

Horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs) experience three‐dimensional rotational and unsteady aerodynamic phenomena at the rotor blades sections. These highly unsteady three‐dimensional effects have a dramatic impact on the aerodynamic load distributions on the blades, in particular, when they occur at high angles of attack due to stall delay and dynamic stall. Unfortunately, there is no complete understanding of the flow physics yet at these unsteady 3D flow conditions, and hence, the existing published theoretical models are often incapable of modelling the impact on the turbine response realistically. The purpose of this paper is to provide an insight on the combined influence of the stall delay and dynamic stall on the blade load history of wind turbines in controlled and uncontrolled conditions. New dynamic stall vortex and nonlinear tangential force coefficient modules, which integrally take into account the three dimensional rotational effect, are also proposed in this paper. This module along with the unsteady influence of turbulent wind speed and tower shadow is implemented in a blade element momentum (BEM) model to estimate the aerodynamic loads on a rotating blade more accurately. This work presents an important step to help modelling the combined influence of the stall delay and dynamic stall on the load history of the rotating wind turbine blades which is vital to have lighter turbine blades and improved wind turbine design systems.     

不同空气密度下的风力机变桨策略优化研究

针对风力机叶片在较低空气密度下易出现失速等问题,在提前变桨控制策略的基础上,提出了实时调整提前变桨控制策略中的变桨微动角度的调节方法,并采用CFD数值仿真及现场试验进行验证。结果表明,实时调整提前变桨控制策略中变桨微动角度,提高了风力机组在不同运行条件下的适应性,改善了风力机叶片在低空气密度下的流动分离,减小了叶片的动态失速,提升了风力机功率,最大增幅为3.17%。     

Experimental investigation of the influence of solidity on the performance and flow field aerodynamics of vertical axis wind turbines at low Reynolds numbers

This paper shows the results of an experimental investigation into the effect of changes in solidity on the performance of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine. Two VAWT configurations are used, one of solidity σ = 0.26 (chord C = 0.03 m) and the other with σ = 0.34 (C = 0.04 m). The turbine performance coefficient (C_p) was measured over a range of tip speed ratios and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) was used to determine the flow field around both turbine configurations.Performance (C_p–λ) curves for the two VAWTs are compared at the same Reynolds numbers to investigate the effects of solidity alone on the performance and aerodynamics of each configuration. The higher solidity (σ = 0.34) VAWT attained a similar maximum C_p but with a narrower C_p–λ curve than the lower solidity VAWT. The performance differences between the two VAWT configurations at two tip speed ratios are explained in detail using PIV around both VAWT rotor blades. This allows the linking of detailed aerodynamics to the performance and it was shown that the generation and shedding of stall vortices started earlier on the lower solidity VAWT than the higher solidity VAWT, thus limiting the rotor efficiency.