WECS incompressible Lifting Surface Aerodynamics (WILSA)
A method is described for computing the distribution for a zero-thickness horizontal axis windmill, as well as for obtaining the power coefficient. The problem is formulated in terms of velocity potential, and the study deals with a nonlinear finite-element lifting-surface analysis of horizontal-axis windmills in a steady incompressible, inviscid, irrotational flow, with a prescribed helicoidal wake. A zero-order-finite-element analysis is used with a straight-vortex line wake. The correct wake geometry is obtained and the pressure coefficient calculated using both linearized and nonlinear forms of the Bernoulli Theorem. The numerical results compare well with those obtained with Windmill Incompressible Complex Configuration Aerodynamics (WICCA), a computer program for solving the same problem which uses a completely different integral equation. A number of suggestions are offered to improve the model presented.
- Research Organization:
- Boston Univ., MA (USA). Computational Continuum Mechanics Program
- OSTI ID:
- 6882863
- Report Number(s):
- PB-80-191620
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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