Wind Turbine Performance in Controlled Conditions: BEM Modeling and Comparison with Experimental Results
Predictions of the performance of operating wind turbines are challenging for many reasons including the unsteadiness of the wind and uncertainties in blade aerodynamic behaviour. In the current study an extended blade element momentum (BEM) program was developed to compute the rotor power of an exi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2016-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Rotating Machinery |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/5460823 |
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| author | David A. Johnson Mingyao Gu Brian Gaunt |
| author_facet | David A. Johnson Mingyao Gu Brian Gaunt |
| author_sort | David A. Johnson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Predictions of the performance of operating wind turbines are challenging for many reasons including the unsteadiness of the wind and uncertainties in blade aerodynamic behaviour. In the current study an extended blade element momentum (BEM) program was developed to compute the rotor power of an existing 4.3 m diameter turbine and compare predictions with reported controlled experimental measurements. Beginning with basic blade geometry and the iterative computation of aerodynamic properties, the method integrated the BEM analysis into the program workflow ensuring that the power production by a blade element agreed with its lift and drag data at the same Reynolds number. The parametric study using the extended BEM algorithm revealed the close association of the power curve behaviour with the aerodynamic characteristics of the blade elements, the discretization of the aerodynamic span, and the dependence on Reynolds number when the blades were stalled. Transition prediction also affected overall performance, albeit to a lesser degree. Finally, to capture blade finite area effects, the tip loss model was adjusted depending on stall conditions. The experimental power curve for the HAWT of the current study was closely matched by the extended BEM simulation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9cf89f3ba3574c2db1a4923ef562dc97 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1023-621X 1542-3034 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2016-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Rotating Machinery |
| spelling | doaj-art-9cf89f3ba3574c2db1a4923ef562dc972025-08-20T03:38:15ZengWileyInternational Journal of Rotating Machinery1023-621X1542-30342016-01-01201610.1155/2016/54608235460823Wind Turbine Performance in Controlled Conditions: BEM Modeling and Comparison with Experimental ResultsDavid A. Johnson0Mingyao Gu1Brian Gaunt2Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, N2L 3G1, CanadaDepartment of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, N2L 3G1, CanadaDepartment of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, N2L 3G1, CanadaPredictions of the performance of operating wind turbines are challenging for many reasons including the unsteadiness of the wind and uncertainties in blade aerodynamic behaviour. In the current study an extended blade element momentum (BEM) program was developed to compute the rotor power of an existing 4.3 m diameter turbine and compare predictions with reported controlled experimental measurements. Beginning with basic blade geometry and the iterative computation of aerodynamic properties, the method integrated the BEM analysis into the program workflow ensuring that the power production by a blade element agreed with its lift and drag data at the same Reynolds number. The parametric study using the extended BEM algorithm revealed the close association of the power curve behaviour with the aerodynamic characteristics of the blade elements, the discretization of the aerodynamic span, and the dependence on Reynolds number when the blades were stalled. Transition prediction also affected overall performance, albeit to a lesser degree. Finally, to capture blade finite area effects, the tip loss model was adjusted depending on stall conditions. The experimental power curve for the HAWT of the current study was closely matched by the extended BEM simulation.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/5460823 |
| spellingShingle | David A. Johnson Mingyao Gu Brian Gaunt Wind Turbine Performance in Controlled Conditions: BEM Modeling and Comparison with Experimental Results International Journal of Rotating Machinery |
| title | Wind Turbine Performance in Controlled Conditions: BEM Modeling and Comparison with Experimental Results |
| title_full | Wind Turbine Performance in Controlled Conditions: BEM Modeling and Comparison with Experimental Results |
| title_fullStr | Wind Turbine Performance in Controlled Conditions: BEM Modeling and Comparison with Experimental Results |
| title_full_unstemmed | Wind Turbine Performance in Controlled Conditions: BEM Modeling and Comparison with Experimental Results |
| title_short | Wind Turbine Performance in Controlled Conditions: BEM Modeling and Comparison with Experimental Results |
| title_sort | wind turbine performance in controlled conditions bem modeling and comparison with experimental results |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/5460823 |
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