The aerodynamic performance of a wind turbine rotor equipped with circulation enhancement technology (trailing-edge blowing or Gurney flaps) is investigated using a three-dimensional unsteady viscous flow analysis. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory Phase VI horizontal axis wind turbine is chosen as the baseline configuration. Experimental data for the baseline case is used to validate the flow solver, prior to its use in exploring these concepts. Calculations have been performed for axial and yawed flow at several wind conditions. Results presented include radial distribution of the normal and tangential forces, shaft torque, root flap moment, and surface pressure distributions at selected radial locations. At low wind speed where the flow is fully attached, it is shown that a Coanda jet at the trailing edge of the rotor blade is effective at increasing circulation resulting in an increase of lift and the chordwise thrust force. This leads to an increased amount of net power generation compared to the baseline configuration for moderate blowing coefficients . A passive Gurney flap was found to increase the bound circulation and produce increased power in a manner similar to Coanda jet. At high wind speed where the flow is separated, both the Coanda jet and Gurney flap become ineffective. The effects of these two concepts on the root bending moments have also been studied.
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e-mail: chaniṉtongchitpakdee@ae.gatech.edu
e-mail: saruṉbenjanirat@ae.gatech.edu
e-mail: lsankar@ae.gatech.edu
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November 2006
Research Papers
Numerical Studies of the Effects of Active and Passive Circulation Enhancement Concepts on Wind Turbine Performance
Chanin Tongchitpakdee,
Chanin Tongchitpakdee
Graduate Research Assistant, student
Mem. ASME
School of Aerospace Engineering,
e-mail: chaniṉtongchitpakdee@ae.gatech.edu
Georgia Institute of Technology
, 270 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332-0150
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Sarun Benjanirat,
Sarun Benjanirat
Graduate Research Assistant, student
Mem. ASME
School of Aerospace Engineering,
e-mail: saruṉbenjanirat@ae.gatech.edu
Georgia Institute of Technology
, 270 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332-0150
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Lakshmi N. Sankar
Lakshmi N. Sankar
Regents Professor
School of Aerospace Engineering,
e-mail: lsankar@ae.gatech.edu
Georgia Institute of Technology
, 270 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332-0150
Search for other works by this author on:
Chanin Tongchitpakdee
Graduate Research Assistant, student
Mem. ASME
School of Aerospace Engineering,
Georgia Institute of Technology
, 270 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332-0150e-mail: chaniṉtongchitpakdee@ae.gatech.edu
Sarun Benjanirat
Graduate Research Assistant, student
Mem. ASME
School of Aerospace Engineering,
Georgia Institute of Technology
, 270 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332-0150e-mail: saruṉbenjanirat@ae.gatech.edu
Lakshmi N. Sankar
Regents Professor
School of Aerospace Engineering,
Georgia Institute of Technology
, 270 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332-0150e-mail: lsankar@ae.gatech.edu
J. Sol. Energy Eng. Nov 2006, 128(4): 432-444 (13 pages)
Published Online: July 16, 2006
Article history
Received:
January 24, 2006
Revised:
July 16, 2006
Citation
Tongchitpakdee, C., Benjanirat, S., and Sankar, L. N. (July 16, 2006). "Numerical Studies of the Effects of Active and Passive Circulation Enhancement Concepts on Wind Turbine Performance." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. November 2006; 128(4): 432–444. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2346704
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