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Aerodynamics of HAWTS: an experimental and theoretical concerted action

Objective

- To deepen existing knowledge of the aerodynamic behaviour of operating horizontal axis wind turbines.
- To produce a broad and useful data bank.
- To develop codes for future industrial use.

Aerodynamic load predictions for horizontal axis wind turbine blades rely mainly on elementary propeller theories. Reality is very much more complex. The use of more advanced aerodynamic notions is particularly necessary as concerns unsteady effects. The fact that these are very badly predicted at the present time is shown by the fatigue problems experienced with many wind turbines. Considerably more work is required on stall, dynamic stall, three dimensional flow and the effect of natural wind turbulence. This concerted action is aimed at addressing some of these questions through the continuation of earlier EC research projects and the inception of some new work.

The long term objective of this action is to arrive at valid predictive tools for steady and unsteady loads on wind turbine blades. This requires the theoretical development of computer codes on the one hand, and on the other hand the obtaining of baseline experimental data to be used in validating the codes and in updating them through a better physical understanding of the aerodynamic phenomena.

The project consists of theoretical and experimental tasks:

a) There are two theoretical actions: (I) The validation and updating of an existing aero-elastic code (developed under a previous EC contract) and the development of this theory in the form of a PC programme for the use of designers. (II) The extension of a 2D code to account correctly for the 3D effects which are principally due to blade rotation. This research should give a tool to assess the significance of 3D effects as a function of WT operating conditions.

b) The experimental investigations are conducted on three different scales: (I) Extensive load measurements on an existing commercial wind turbines with turbulent inflow measurements and flow visualizations. (II) Extensive pressure measurements on the blades of an experimental wind turbine rig were carried out under an earlier EC contract - complementary tests and analyses and synthesis of the results. (III) Wind tunnel rotor studies with the primary aim of determining the effect of blade rotation on stall.

Topic(s)

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Call for proposal

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Coordinator

Office National d'Études et de Recherches Aérospatiales (ONERA)
EU contribution
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Address
29 avenue de la Division Leclerc
92322 Châtillon
France

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Total cost
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Participants (5)