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Simulation of a 5MW wind turbine in an atmospheric boundary layer

K. Meister, Th. Lutz, E. Krmer
Institute of Aerodynamics and Gas Dynamics

University of Stuttgart Institute of Aerodynamics und Gas Dynamics

The Science of Making Torque from Wind, K. Meister, 10.10.2012 Email: meister@iag.uni-stuttgart.de

Outline
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Motivation Process chain for wind turbine simulation Atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) simulation
Setup Turbulence propagation

Simulation of the REpower 5M (Alpha Ventus)

Setup Load evaluation

Conclusion & Outlook

University of Stuttgart Institute of Aerodynamics und Gas Dynamics
The Science of Making Torque from Wind, K. Meister, 10.10.2012 Email: meister@iag.uni-stuttgart.de

Motivation
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Efficient wind power production depends on reliability and economic feasibility Turbine loads are affected by unsteady aerodynamic effects Pitch oscillations (Theodorsens Theory) Gusts (Sears Problem, Miles Problem) Pitch oscillations

CFD methods are able to consider unsteady aerodynamic effects physically correct Better load prediction Load fluctuations Peak loads Accurate near wake prediction Far wake prediction (wind farms)

[1]

[1] J. Gordon Leishman, Principles of Helicopter Aerodynamics

University of Stuttgart Institute of Aerodynamics und Gas Dynamics
The Science of Making Torque from Wind, K. Meister, 10.10.2012 Email: meister@iag.uni-stuttgart.de

Process chain for wind turbine simulations

www.iag.uni-stuttgart.de
Flow solver FLOWer
Finite volume based 2nd order flow solver (provided by DLR) Structured multi block code (U)RANS / DES Moving / Overlapping meshes (CHIMERA)
Added features: Time-resolved atmospheric turbulent inflow Higher order WENO scheme for convective fluxes Time-accurate strong fluid structure coupling

(IAG)

(SWE)
University of Stuttgart Institute of Aerodynamics und Gas Dynamics

IAG & SWE

Email: meister@iag.uni-stuttgart.de

The Science of Making Torque from Wind, K. Meister, 10.10.2012

Process chain for wind turbine simulations

www.iag.uni-stuttgart.de
Resolution

Simulation of blade aerodynamics

Turbine boundary layer fully resolved (Y+ 1) 3D-viscous and unsteady effects are considered

Simulation of tower and nacelle Calculation of near wake

Highly resolved by using grid refinement and higher order schemes

Simulation of interactions with atmospheric boundary layer

Unsteady inflow Large scale turbulence is resolved

University of Stuttgart Institute of Aerodynamics und Gas Dynamics

The Science of Making Torque from Wind, K. Meister, 10.10.2012 Email: meister@iag.uni-stuttgart.de

Atmospheric boundary layer simulation (DES)

www.iag.uni-stuttgart.de
Computational setup

Setup of simulation: 16 million cells LES inflow data from ForWind (based on FINO 1 site specific maritime boundary layer) Linear interpolation of LES inflow data to fit IAG time step No-slip walls on ground Periodic boundaries used on both sides of background mesh DES with Spalart Allmaras turbulence model

Iso surface of x-velocity at 14m/s of LES in a yz-plane over time (extract from ForWind data)

Computational domain
University of Stuttgart Institute of Aerodynamics und Gas Dynamics
The Science of Making Torque from Wind, K. Meister, 10.10.2012 Email: meister@iag.uni-stuttgart.de

Atmospheric boundary layer simulation (DES)

www.iag.uni-stuttgart.de
Turbulence propagation
turbine position Previous questions: How is turbulence transport affected by dissipation? Where should the turbine be placed?

y 46m

Turbulence intensity at 95m height at several downstream positions and for higher order WENO scheme (simulations without turbine)

University of Stuttgart Institute of Aerodynamics und Gas Dynamics

The Science of Making Torque from Wind, K. Meister, 10.10.2012 Email: meister@iag.uni-stuttgart.de

Simulation of the REpower 5M

www.iag.uni-stuttgart.de
Computational setup
Setup of simulation: Full model (35.5 million cells) with extract of LES inflow data (ForWind) Fixed time step 0.020833 sec (1.5azimuth) over 38 full rotations No-slip walls on every surface Periodic boundaries used on both sides of background mesh DES with Spalart Allmaras turbulence model 11.2constant pitch

LES inflow data by ForWind

University of Stuttgart Institute of Aerodynamics und Gas Dynamics
The Science of Making Torque from Wind, K. Meister, 10.10.2012 Email: meister@iag.uni-stuttgart.de

Simulation of the REpower 5M

www.iag.uni-stuttgart.de
Out of plane normal blade force over one revolution (5 seconds)
Uniform inflow (periodic) turb Atmospheric inflow (not periodic)

shift

shift turb ti

ti

turb

Both normalized with mean Fax of uniform inflow

University of Stuttgart Institute of Aerodynamics und Gas Dynamics
The Science of Making Torque from Wind, K. Meister, 10.10.2012 Email: meister@iag.uni-stuttgart.de

Simulation of the REpower 5M

www.iag.uni-stuttgart.de
Out of plane normal blade force & spectrum

Out of plane normal blade force over 60 seconds (one inflow period)

Out of plane normal blade force spectrum of uniform and atmospheric inflow (evaluated over 60 seconds; rotor freq. 0.2 Hz)

Distinct load fluctuations at blade passing frequency and higher harmonics Broadband excitation of load fluctuations for atmospheric inflow Amplitudes of 0.5% up to 0.5Hz (atm. Inflow)
University of Stuttgart Institute of Aerodynamics und Gas Dynamics
The Science of Making Torque from Wind, K. Meister, 10.10.2012 Email: meister@iag.uni-stuttgart.de

Simulation of the REpower 5M

www.iag.uni-stuttgart.de
Blade load distribution
: normalized fluctuation of chord normal force coefficient

1. 2. 3.

Blade tower interaction is higher for inner section Higher amplitudes at low frequencies for the inner sections Frequency range of linear time interpolation of inflow data

University of Stuttgart Institute of Aerodynamics und Gas Dynamics

The Science of Making Torque from Wind, K. Meister, 10.10.2012 Email: meister@iag.uni-stuttgart.de

Conclusion & Outlook

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Method for simulation of wind turbines in atmospheric boundary layer was presented Turbulence transport with CFD till wind turbine position is possible with less dissipation
Turbulence transport can be improved by using higher order methods

DES simulation of REpower 5M

Turbulence of the ABL has significant influence on loads Detailed load analysis by using CFD is possible

Comparison of results to simple/faster models (BEM) Consideration of time accurate fluid structure interaction in an ABL of the REpower 5M (Together with Endowed Chair of Wind Energy (SWE) Stuttgart) Coupling of the CFD simulation to a pitch controller

University of Stuttgart Institute of Aerodynamics und Gas Dynamics

The Science of Making Torque from Wind, K. Meister, 10.10.2012 Email: meister@iag.uni-stuttgart.de

Acknowledgements
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OWEA: All Project Partners

The IAG is member of the WindForS Alliance

University of Stuttgart Institute of Aerodynamics und Gas Dynamics

The Science of Making Torque from Wind, K. Meister, 10.10.2012 Email: meister@iag.uni-stuttgart.de

www.iag.uni-stuttgart.de

Thank you for your attention!

University of Stuttgart Institute of Aerodynamics und Gas Dynamics

The Science of Making Torque from Wind, K. Meister, 10.10.2012 Email: meister@iag.uni-stuttgart.de