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A new tip loss correction, initially developed for 1D Blade Element/Momentum (BEM) computations (submitted to Wind Energy), is now extended to 2D Actuator Disc/Navier–Stokes (AD/NS) computations and 3D Actuator Line/Navier–Stokes (AL/NS) computations. In the paper, it is shown that the tip loss correction is an important and necessary step for actuator/Navier–Stokes models. Computed results are compared to experimental data and to results from BEM computations using the new tip correction as well as the original one of Glauert (Aerodynamic Theory, Dover, New York, Chap. VII, Div. L, pp. 251–268). From the results it is concluded that the tip loss correction has been correctly employed in the Navier–Stokes based actuator models. The results also demonstrate that the difference between actuator line and actuator disk-based models may increase, especially for flows at a low tip speed ratio. Since the flows at a low tip speed ratio are too far to be considered as axisymmetrical flows, the actuator disk models that are based on axisymmetrical flow behaviors may not be valid.

This paper presents a new numerical technique for simulating two-dimensional wind turbine flow. The method, denoted as the 2D actuator surface technique, consists of a two-dimensional Navier–Stokes solver in which the pressure distribution is represented by body forces that are distributed along the chord of the airfoils. The distribution of body force is determined from a set of predefined functions that depend on angle of attack and airfoil shape. The predefined functions are curve fitted using pressure distributions obtained either from viscous-inviscid interactive codes or from full Navier–Stokes simulations. The actuator surface technique is evaluated by computing the two-dimensional flow past a NACA 0015 airfoil at a Reynolds number of 106 and an angle of attack of 10deg and by comparing the computed streamlines with the results from a traditional Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes computation. In the last part, the actuator surface technique is applied to compute the flow past a two-bladed vertical axis wind turbine equipped with NACA 0012 airfoils. Comparisons with experimental data show an encouraging performance of the method.