Wake characteristics of an eight-leg tower for a MOD-0 type wind turbine

Technical Report · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:6350412

Savino, J M; Wagner, L H; Sinclair, D

Low speed wind tunnel tests were conducted to determine the flow characteristics of the wake downwind of a 1/25th scale, all tubular eight leg tower concept suitable for application to the DOE-NASA MOD-0 wind power turbine. Measurements were made of wind speed profiles, and from these were determined the wake local minimum velocity, average velocity, and width for several wind approach angles. These data are presented herein along with tower shadow photographs and comparisons with data from an earlier lattice type, four leg tower model constructed of tubular members. Values of average wake velocity defect ratio and average ratio of wake width to blade radius for the eight leg model were estimated to be around 0.17 and 0.30, respectively, at the plane of the rotor blade. These characteristics suggest that the tower wake of the eight leg concept is slightly less than that of the four leg design.

• Research Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Cleveland, OH (USA). Lewis Research Center
• OSTI ID: 6350412
• Report Number(s): N-78-24615; NASA-TM-73868; E-9463
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

17 WIND ENERGY
170600* -- Wind Energy Engineering
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
TESTING
TURBULENCE
WIND
WIND TURBINES