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This work aims to develop a simple framework for transition prediction over wind-turbine blades, including effects of the blade rotation and spanwise velocity without requiring fully three-dimensional simulations. The framework is based on a set of boundary-layer equations (BLEs) and parabolized stability equations (PSEs), including rotation effects. An important element of the developed BL method is the modeling of the spanwise velocity at the boundary-layer edge. The two analyzed wind-turbine geometries correspond to a constant airfoil and the DTU 10-MW Reference Wind Turbine blades. The BL model allows an accurate prediction of the chordwise velocity profiles. Further, for regions not too close to the stagnation point and root of the blade, profiles of the spanwise velocity agree with those from Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulations. The model also allows predicting inflectional velocity profiles for lower radial positions, which may allow crossflow transition. Transition prediction is performed at several radial positions through an "envelope-of-envelopes"methodology. The results are compared with the eN method of Drela and Giles, implemented in the EllipSys3D RANS code. The RANS transition locations closely agree with those from the PSE analysis of a 2D mean flow without rotation. These results also agree with those from the developed model for cases with low 3D and rotation effects, such as at higher radial positions and geometries with strong adverse pressure gradients where 2D Tollmien-Schlichting (TS) waves are dominant. However, the RANS and PSE 2D models predict a later transition in the regions where 3D and rotation effects are non-negligible. The developed method, which accounts for these effects, predicted earlier transition onsets in this region (e.g., 19 % earlier than RANS at 26 % of the radius for the constant-airfoil geometry) and shows that transition may occur via highly oblique modes. These modes differ from 2D TS waves and appear

In order to design future large wind turbines, knowledge is needed about the impact of aero-elasticity on the rotor loads and performance and about the physics of the atmospheric flow surrounding the turbines. The objective of the present work is to study both effects by means of high-fidelity rotor-resolved numerical simulations. In particular, unsteady computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of a 2.3 MW wind turbine are conducted, this rotor being the largest design with relevant experimental data available to the authors. Turbulence is modeled with two different approaches. On one hand, a model using the well-established technique of improved delayed detached eddy simulation (IDDES) is employed. An additional set of simulations relies on a novel hybrid turbulence model, developed within the framework of the present work. It consists of a blend of a large-eddy simulation (LES) model by Deardorff for atmospheric flow and an IDDES model for the separated flow near the rotor geometry. In the same way, the assessment of the influence of the blade flexibility is performed by comparing two different sets of computations. The first group accounts for a structural multi-body dynamics (MBD) model of the blades. The MBD solver was coupled to the CFD solver during run time with a staggered fluid-structure interaction (FSI) scheme. The second set of simulations uses the original rotor geometry, without accounting for any structural deflection. The results of the present work show no significant difference between the IDDES and the hybrid turbulence model. In a similar manner, and due to the fact that the considered rotor was relatively stiff, the loading variation introduced by the blade flexibility was found to be negligible when compared to the influence of inflow turbulence. The simulation method validated here is considered highly relevant for future turbine designs, where the impact of blade elasticity will be significant and the detailed structure of the atmosphe

Aeroelastic simulations of a 2.3 MW wind turbine rotor operating in different complex atmospheric flows are conducted using high fidelity fluid–structure interaction (FSI) simulations. Simpler blade element momentum (BEM) theory based simulations are likewise conducted for comparison, and measurements from field experiments are used for validation of the simulations. Good agreement is seen between simulated and measured forces. It is found that for complex flows, BEM-based simulations predict similar forces as computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based FSI, however with some distinct discrepancies. Firstly, stall is predicted for a large part of the blade using BEM-based aerodynamics, which are not seen in either FSI simulations or measurements in the case of a high shear. This leads to a more dynamic structural response for BEM-based simulations than for FSI. For a highly yawed and sheared flow case, the BEM-based simulations overpredict outboard forces for a significant part of the rotation. This emphasizes the need of validation of BEM-based simulations through higher fidelity methods, when considering complex flows. Including flexibility in simulations shows only little impact on the considered rotor for both FSI- and BEM-based simulations. In general, the loading of the blades increases slightly, and the rotor wake is almost identical for stiff and flexible FSI simulations.

The aerodynamic performance of a NACA 633‐418 airfoil has been analyzed with disturbances in approximately 1000 different configurations focused on the frontal 10% of the airfoil. The configuration parameters are based on field test samples and rain erosion test specimens. The most important trends are presented by 500 configurations each simulated for 6°, 8°, and 10° angle of attack. The simulations are performed with the DTU Wind Energy in‐house 2D CFD Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes solver, EllipSys2D, combined with the eN transition model for the laminar‐turbulent boundary layer transition. The configurations are modeled by a direct geometrical modification of the airfoil shape. The results show that the most important parameters are the position and the depth/height of the disturbance, with up to 35% lift reduction and 90% lift/drag reduction within the specified angle of attacks and disturbance parameter ranges.

Laminar-turbulent transition behavior of a wind turbine blade section is investigated in this study by means of field experiments and 3-D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) rotor simulations. The power spectral density (PSD) integrals of the pressure fluctuations obtained from the high-frequency microphones mounted on a blade section are analyzed to detect laminar-turbulent transition locations from the experiments. The atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) velocities and the turbulence intensities (T.I.) measured from the field experiments are used to create several inflow scenarios for the CFD simulations. Results from the natural and the bypass transition models of the in-house CFD EllipSys code are compared with the experiments. It is seen that the bypass transition model results fit well with experiments at the azimuthal positions where the turbine is under wake and high turbulence, while the results from other cases show agreement with the natural transition model. Furthermore, the influence of inflow turbulence, wake of an upstream turbine, and angle of attack (AOA) on the transition behavior is investigated through the field experiments. On the pressure side of the blade section, at high AOA values and wake conditions, variation in the transition location covers up to 44 % of the chord during one revolution, while for the no-wake cases and lower AOA values, variation occurs along a region that covers only 5 % of the chord. The effect of the inflow turbulence on the effective angle of attack as well as its direct effect on transition is observed. Transition locations for the wind tunnel conditions and field experiments are compared together with 2-D and 3-D CFD simulations. In contrast to the suction side, significant difference in the transition locations is observed between wind tunnel and field experiments on the pressure side for the same airfoil geometry. It is seen that the natural and bypass transition models of EllipSys3D can be used for transition pred

Aerodynamic loads need to be known for planning and defining test loads beforehand for wind turbine blades that are tested for fatigue certifications. It is known that the aerodynamic forces, especially drag, are different for tests and operation, due to the entirely different flow conditions. In test facilities, a vibrating blade will move in and out of its own wake, increasing the drag forces on the blade. This is not the case in operation. To study this special aerodynamic condition present during experimental tests, numerical simulations of a wind turbine blade during pull–release tests were conducted. High-fidelity three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics methods were used throughout the simulations. In this way, the fluid mechanisms and their impact on the moving blade are clarified, and through the coupling with a structural solver, the fluid–structure interaction is studied. Results are compared to actual measurements from experimental tests, verifying the approach. It is found that the blade experiences a high drag due to its motion towards its own whirling wake, resulting in an effective drag coefficient of approximately 5.3 for the 90° angle of attack. This large drag coefficient was implemented in a fatigue test load simulation, resulting in a significant decrease in bending moment along the blade, leading to less load being applied than intended. The confinement from the test facility did not impact this specific test setup, but simulations with longer blades could possibly yield different conclusions. To the knowledge of the authors, this investigation, including three-dimensional effects, structural coupling and confinement, is the first of its kind.

Spectral analysis was performed on the time series data computed from pressure measurements on the New MEXICO (Model Rotor Experiments under Controlled Conditions) rotor in standstill conditions. As a priori, 3D airfoil polars were recreated from standstill measurements and compared against 2D airfoil polars and flat plate theory results to verify the measurements. The spectral analysis revealed the presence of dominant shedding frequencies for certain ranges of the geometric angle of attack. Two dominant shedding modes were identified: One was associated with bluff body vortex shedding, and the other was associated with low Strouhal number shedding. No dominant shedding frequencies were observed for angles of attack beyond 50°. The research improves on our current understanding of the unsteady nature of the stall regime, along with providing insight into the existence of vortex‐induced vibrations on a wind turbine in standstill conditions.

Spectral analysis was performed on the time series data computed from pressure measurements on the New MEXICO (Model Rotor Experiments under Controlled Conditions) rotor in standstill conditions. As a priori, 3D airfoil polars were recreated from standstill measurements and compared against 2D airfoil polars and flat plate theory results to verify the measurements. The spectral analysis revealed the presence of dominant shedding frequencies for certain ranges of the geometric angle of attack. Two dominant shedding modes were identified: One was associated with bluff body vortex shedding, and the other was associated with low Strouhal number shedding. No dominant shedding frequencies were observed for angles of attack beyond 50°. The research improves on our current understanding of the unsteady nature of the stall regime, along with providing insight into the existence of vortex-induced vibrations on a wind turbine in standstill conditions., Wind Energy

The present work describes an exploratory work aiming to analyze the impact of trailing edge flaps activation on Vortex Induced Vibrations (VIV) suppression. A computational study of the VIV of the AVATAR rotor blade, a 10 MW design suitable for offshore locations, was performed. A Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI) approach was adopted for the simulations, coupling an Improved Delayed Detached Eddy Simulations (IDDES) flow solver with a beam-based structural model. Initial simulations based on the clean geometry identified significant edgewise VIV for certain free stream velocity and flow inclination angles. Inflow conditions showing the maximum amplitude of blade vibrations were used in order to test several trailing edge flap geometries and operating angles. The best flap configuration found in this parametric study managed to suppress the VIV phenomenon. However, when assessing a wider range of inflow conditions, the amplitudes of vibration of the blade equipped with flaps were found to be equivalent to the ones obtained for its clean counterpart. It is therefore concluded that a re-calibration of the flap operating angle should be required in order to adapt it to the considered wind speed and wind direction.

The wind energy industry relies heavily on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to analyze new turbine designs. To utilize CFD earlier in the design process, where lower-fidelity methods such as blade element momentum (BEM) are more common, requires the development of new tools. Tools that utilize numerical optimization are particularly valuable because they reduce the reliance on design by trial and error. We present the first comprehensive 3-D CFD adjoint-based shape optimization of a modern 10 MW offshore wind turbine. The optimization problem is aligned with a case study from International Energy Agency (IEA) Wind Task 37, making it possible to compare our findings with the BEM results from this case study and therefore allowing us to determine the value of design optimization based on high-fidelity models. The comparison shows that the overall design trends suggested by the two models do agree, and that it is particularly valuable to consult the high-fidelity model in areas such as root and tip where BEM is inaccurate. In addition, we compare two different CFD solvers to quantify the effect of modeling compressibility and to estimate the accuracy of the chosen grid resolution and order of convergence of the solver. Meshes up to 14 × 106 cells are used in the optimization whereby flow details are resolved. The present work shows that it is now possible to successfully optimize modern wind turbines aerodynamically under normal operating conditions using Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) models. The key benefit of a 3-D RANS approach is that it is possible to optimize the blade planform and cross-sectional shape simultaneously, thus tailoring the shape to the actual 3-D flow over the rotor. This work does not address evaluation of extreme loads used for structural sizing, where BEM-based methods have proven very accurate, and therefore will likely remain the method of choice.