The effect of the integral length scale of turbulence on a wind turbine aerofoil

Aerodynamics; Atmospheric turbulence; Integral length scale of turbulence; Passive grid; Wind tunnel; Wind turbine aerofoil; Angle of attack; Turbomachine blades; Turbulence; Wind tunnels; Wind turbines; Aero-dynamic performance; Freestream turbulence; Low frequency range; Turbulence intensity; Wind tunnel experiment; Wind turbine blades; Wind-tunnel testing; Turbine components

Abstract :

[en] The effect of free stream turbulence on a DU96w180 wind turbine aerofoil is investigated through wind tunnel experiments. Wind turbine blades experience large scale, high intensity turbulent inflow during their service life. However, the effect of turbulence is normally neglected in the assessment of their aerodynamic performance. This is normally justified based on common assumptions on the effect of the integral length scale of turbulence, which supposedly only acts in the low-frequency range of the energy spectrum, hence affecting the angle of attack instead of the aerodynamic behaviour. In this study, an experimental setup implementing passive grids is developed to vary independently turbulence intensity and integral length scale in wind tunnel testing, with a range spanning I~5–15% and L~8−33cm respectively. Results show that turbulence effects are not negligible even at the largest integral length scales, provided that a critical value for the turbulence intensity is achieved. Turbulence is found to increase mean and fluctuating Lift and delay separation in stalled conditions. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd

Disciplines :

Aerospace & aeronautics engineering

Author, co-author :

Vita, G.; Department of Industrial Engineering – DIEF, School of Engineering, University of Florence, Italy, Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom

Hemida, H.; Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom

Andrianne, Thomas ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'aérospatiale et mécanique > Interactions Fluide-Structure - Aérodynamique expérimentale

Baniotopoulos, C.; Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom

Language :

English

Title :

The effect of the integral length scale of turbulence on a wind turbine aerofoil

Publication date :

2020

Journal title :

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

ISSN :

0167-6105

eISSN :

1872-8197

Publisher :

Elsevier B.V.

Volume :

204

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

European Projects :

H2020 - 643167 - AEOLUS4FUTURE - Efficient harvesting of the wind energy

Funders :

EC - European Commission [BE]

Available on ORBi :

since 20 April 2021

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