Active Circulation Control for Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine.

A based method for modeling the aerodynamics of horizontal axis wind turbine has been developed. Circulation control is implemented by tangentially blowing a small high-velocity jet over a highly curved surface, such as a rounded trailing edge. This causes the boundary layer and the jet sheet to remain attached along the curved surface due to the Coanda effect and causing the jet to turn without separation. This analysis has been validated for the experimental data of a rotor tested at NASA Ames Research Center. Comparisons have been done against measurements for surface pressure distribution, force coefficients normal and tangential to the chord line, torque and root bending moments. This approach for enhancing the circulation around the airfoil sections (and hence L/D and power production) has been examined and found to produce useful increases in power at low wind speeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]