Influence of Reynolds number on performance modeling of horizontal axis wind rotors
This paper investigates the influence of Reynolds number on performance modeling of horizontal axis wind rotors. A procedure for accounting for Reynolds number effects on airfoil section models was developed and implemented for NACA 0012 and NACA 4415 profiles; both of these models is valid through angles of attack up to 90 deg and for Reynolds numbers ranging from 4 x 10/sup 4/ to 3 x 10/sup 6/. These models were incorporated into both a lifting line computer code, LL200R, adapted for this report. This enabled greater uncertainty to be obtained in evaluating theoretical performance codes with respect to actual data, as well as providing a means by which a parametric analysis of the relative effects of Re changes on rotor performance to be performed. The use of low Reynolds number section data was found to significantly lower the predicted values of power coefficient, particularly at off-design tip speed-ratios. For symmetrical airfoils, this effect on performance was only significant for low tip-speed- ratios, while cambered airfoils were affected more uniformly at all operating conditions. Changes in performance were induced by parametric variations of wind speed, rotor scale, and rotor generating mode using the Reynolds number dependent section models. Results show that wind speed variations are more significant for smaller rotors at lower wind-speeds, and section models represented at only a single Reynolds number are more suitable for the analysis of constant RPM rotors.
- Research Organization:
- Mechanical Engineering Dept., Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA (US)
- OSTI ID:
- 6826416
- Journal Information:
- J. Sol. Energy Eng.; (United States), Vol. 110:2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
ROTORS
REYNOLDS NUMBER
WIND POWER
CALCULATION METHODS
COMPUTER CODES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
THEORETICAL DATA
DATA
ENERGY SOURCES
INFORMATION
NUMERICAL DATA
POWER
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
TESTING
170602* - Wind Energy Engineering- Turbine Design & Operation
990230 - Mathematics & Mathematical Models- (1987-1989)
990220 - Computers
Computerized Models
& Computer Programs- (1987-1989)