Optimizing a tandem disk model
A very simple physicomathematical model, in which thin straight blades with zero drag skim across a plane rectangular disk, shows that the maximum power coefficient attains the classical maximum of 0.593 over a range of T and a zero or small negative value of alpha/sub 0/. This maximum appears independent of sigma and there are values of T and alpha/sub 0/ for which the speed through the disk becomes complex and the model breaks down. Extending this model to a tandem disk system leads to a difficulty in defining the power coefficient. Attempts to optimize the system output based on reference areas A/sub 1/, A/sub 2/, and A/sub 4/ prove futile and the sum of the coefficients is chosen for this purpose. For thin blades and zero drag the analytic solution is available and it shows that the maximum value of 2 X 0.593 is attained over a narrow range of slightly negative alpha/sub 0/ (blade nose in) and medium values of T. The maximum is independent of sigma. As T is increased, the model breaks down either after C /SUB psum/ becomes large and negative or after backflow through the downwind disk occurs. There appears to be no requirement on load distribution between the disks. By comparison, modeling a machine with NACA 0012 blades at Re = 1.34 X 10/sup 6/ shows that the maximum value of C /SUB psum/ depends on the solidity. For example, at sigma = 0.4, the maximum value of C /SUB psum/ is 83% of 2 X 0.593. At such high values of sigma, however, the ranges of alpha/sub 0/ and T over which solutions are available become very limited.
- Research Organization:
- The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast
- OSTI ID:
- 6691255
- Journal Information:
- J. Energy; (United States), Vol. 7:4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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