Aerodynamic pressure and flow-visualization measurement from a rotating wind turbine blade

Conference · Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:6513793

Butterfield, C P

Aerodynamic, load, flow-visualization, and inflow measurements have been made on a 10-m, three-bladed, downwind, horizontal-axis wind turbine (HAWT). A video camera mounted on the rotor was used to record nighttime and daytime video images of tufts attached to the low-pressure side of a constant-chord, zero-twist blade. Load measurements were made using strain gages mounted at every 10% of the blade's span. Pressure measurements were made at 80% of the blade's span. Pressure taps were located at 32 chordwise positions, revealing pressure distributions comparable with wind tunnel data. Inflow was measured using a vertical-plane array of eight propvane and five triaxial (U-V-W) prop-type anemometers located 10 m upwind in the predominant wind direction. One objective of this comprehensive research program was to study the effects of blade rotation on aerodynamic behavior below, near, and beyond stall. To this end, flow patterns are presented here that reveal the dynamic and steady behavior of flow conditions on the blade. Pressure distributions are compared to flow patterns and two-dimensional wind tunnel data. Separation boundary locations are shown that change as a function of spanwise location, pitch angle, and wind speed. 6 refs., 23 figs., 1 tab.

• Research Organization: Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-83CH10093
• OSTI ID: 6513793
• Report Number(s): SERI/TP-217-3433; CONF-890102-14; ON: DE89000854
• Resource Relation: Conference: ASME energy-sources technology conference and exhibition and 7. intersociety cryogenic symposium, Houston, TX, USA, 22 Jan 1989; Other Information: Paper copy only, copy does not permit microfiche production
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

17 WIND ENERGY
TURBINE BLADES
AERODYNAMICS
FLOW VISUALIZATION
NUMERICAL DATA
PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
STRAIN GAGES
WIND LOADS
WIND TUNNELS
WIND TURBINES
DATA
DYNAMIC LOADS
FLUID MECHANICS
INFORMATION
MACHINERY
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MECHANICS
TUNNELS
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
HAWT
DELAYED STALL
WIND ENERGY TEST CENTER
170600* - Wind Energy Engineering