Comparison of wind tunnel airfoil performance data with wind turbine blade data
Horizontal-axis wind turbine (HAWT) performance is usually predicted by using wind tunnel airfoil performance data in a blade element momentum theory analysis. This analysis assumes that the rotating blade airfoils will perform as they do in the wind tunnel. However, when HAWT performance is measured in full-scale operation, it is common to find that peak power levels are significantly greater than those predicted. This has led to empirical corrections to the predictions. Viterna and Corrigan proposed the most popular version of this correction. But very little insight has been gained into the basic cause of this discrepancy. The Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI), funded by the US Department of Energy (DOE), has conducted the first phase of an experiment focused on understanding the basic fluid mechanics of HWAT aerodynamics. Results to date have shown that unsteady aerodynamics exist during all operating conditions and dynamic stall can exist for high yaw angle operation. Stall hysteresis occurs even for small yaw angles, and delayed stall is a very persistent reality in all operating conditions. Delayed stall is the result of a leading-edge suction peak remaining attached through angles of attack (AOAs) up to 30{degree}. Wind tunnel results show this peak separating from the leading edge at 18{degree} AOA. The effect of this anomaly is to raise normal force coefficients and tangent force coefficients for high AOA. Increased tangent forces will directly for high AOA. Increased tangent forces will directly affect HAWT performance in high wind speed operation. This report describes pressure distribution data resulting from both wind tunnel and HAWT tests. A method of bins is used to average the HAWT data, which are compared to the wind tunnel data. The analysis technique and the test setup for each test are described. 10 refs., 15 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/CE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-83CH10093
- OSTI ID:
- 6668495
- Report Number(s):
- SERI/TP-254-3799; CONF-900801-24; ON: DE90000343
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 25. intersociety energy conversion engineering conference, Reno, NV (USA), 12-17 Aug 1990
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
AIRFOILS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
HORIZONTAL AXIS TURBINES
PERFORMANCE
TURBINE BLADES
ACCURACY
AERODYNAMICS
BOUNDARY LAYERS
DATA PROCESSING
DENSITY
DRAG
MEASURING METHODS
PRESSURE EFFECTS
PROBABILITY
REYNOLDS NUMBER
STABILITY
STATISTICS
TURBULENCE
WIND TUNNELS
FLUID MECHANICS
LAYERS
MACHINERY
MATHEMATICS
MECHANICS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PROCESSING
TUNNELS
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
WIND TURBINES
170602* - Wind Energy Engineering- Turbine Design & Operation
990200 - Mathematics & Computers