Aerodynamic research efforts at SERI Wind Energy Research Center at Rocky Flats
The Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI) under contract to the US Department of Energy (DOE) conducts in-house and subcontracted aerodynamic research studies. These efforts deal mainly with performance prediction and enhancement of horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWT's). Two levels of performance prediction theory are currently being used and refined while performance enhancement is being pursued through the development of new special purpose airfoils. A general purpose blade-element/momentum code (PROPSH) has been developed for rapid parametric studies and for use in annual energy calculations. A desirable feature of this code is a post-stall airfoil data synthesization routine that accounts for blade aspect ratio effects. A version of the performance code is also being developed to provide a better determination of dynamic stall effects on blade loads and performance as influenced by machine yaw angle, unsteady winds, tower shadow, and wind shear. For detailed wind turbine blade optimization, a more sophisticated lifting-surface/prescribed-wake analysis has recently been developed. This computer code is a transfer of current state-of-the-art helicopter theory into a wind turbine design analysis. The special purpose airfoil design effort is directed toward satisfying the need to tailor airfoil characteristics specifically for HAWT's. The design criteria and the current status of this effort are presented.
- Research Organization:
- Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-83CH10093
- OSTI ID:
- 6281240
- Report Number(s):
- SERI/TP-217-2530; CONF-841071-2; ON: DE85000529
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: European wind energy conference and exhibition, Hamburg, F.R. Germany, 23 Oct 1984; Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
NREL airfoil families for HAWTs
Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine Aerodynamics: Three-Dimensional, Unsteady, and Separated Flow Influences