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Dynamic Stall: The Case of the

A. Laneville
Professor. Vertical Axis Wind Turbine
This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation on a driven Darrieus
P. Vittecoq turbine rotating at different tip speed ratios. For a Reynolds number of 3.8 x 104,
Associate Professor. the results indicate the presence of dynamic stall at tip speed ratio less than 4, and
Mechanical Engineering Department, that helicopter blade aerodynamics can be used in order to explain some aspects of
Universitede Sherbrooke, the phenomenon. It was observed that in deep stall conditions, a vortex is formed at
Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada J1K2R1 the leading edge; this vortex moves over the airfoil surface with 1/3 of the airfoil
speed and then is shed at the trailing edge. After its shedding, the vortex can interact
with the airfoil surface as the blade passes downstream.

J
00
Introduction
This paper presents the results from a series of tests on a
V.A.W.T. with straight blades and attempts to elucidate the
complicated dynamic stalls experienced by this machine.
Although Darrieus wind turbines are relatively simple devices
with fixed-geometry blades rotating about a vertical axis, the
motion of the blades (NACA 0018 airfoil for example)
resembles the one of an oscillating airfoil. As the turbine
rotates, the azimuthal angle changes and the airfoil ex-
periences a variation of incidence according to a sinusoidal
rule for the large tip speed ratio that gradually distorts
towards a sawtooth shape as the tip speed ratio reduces to uni-
ty. This unusual variation of incidence of the Darrieus wind
turbine blade is coupled to a variation of the relative wind
speed. On a single cycle, the local Reynolds number varies
significantly and in the worst case, the case of a tip speed ratio
of unity, this local Reynolds number reduces to zero at an
azimuth of ir. Such an unsteady aerodynamic situation where
an oscillating airfoil moves from a low Reynolds number to a
high Reynolds number in a single cycle leads to a kaleidoscope
of nonlinear phenomena that designers have to face. In order
to elucidate some aspects of the aerodynamics of the Darrieus Fig. 1 Definition and conventions of the velocities and forces for the
wind turbine and to obtain experimental data, a series of tests wind turbine
on a driven Darrieus turbine was undertaken in the open jet of
the Mechanical Engineering Department wind tunnel at the
Universite de Sherbrooke.

Kinematics and Similarity Considerations


As the blade of a Darrieus wind turbine moves on a cycle, it
experiences the relative wind speeds and incidences described
in Fig. 1. This cycle is identical to the crank cycle of Fig. 2
were the azimuthal location, 6, the kinematic angle of in-
cidence a, the oncoming wind speed, and the rotational speed
are interrelated. Defining the tip speed ratio as
X = coi?/£/„
Fig. 2 Velocity vectors for the wind turbine blade
it follows that

tan a = sin 6/ (X + cos 8)


Contributed by the Solar Energy Division for publication in the JOURNAL OF and
SOLAR ENERGY ENGINEERING. Manuscript received by the Solar Energy Division,
September, 1984. a = w (1 + X cos 6)I (1 + 2X cos 6 + X2)

1 4 0 / V o l . 108, MAY 1986 Transactions of the A S M E


Copyright © 1986 by ASME
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,
k 40
{ C/R }
_;35

1.4 -V -
- 25
1.2

j\ ^- 20
.0

"V\
\ \ -- 15
.8
Fig. 4 Principles of measurement
10
.6 airfoil section: NACA 0015
c: 1 ft (0.3 m)
i i i i i i i i S R: 7.5 ft (2.25 m)
I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 .
and operating at a tip speed ratio X of 3 under a wind velocity
Fig. 3 Effect of X on normalized reduced frequency and maximum of 20 mph, the Reynolds number can be estimated to 5.5 x
incidence
105 and the angle for static stall, 13 deg. From Fig. 3, these
operating conditions appear as ones where a?max is 19.5 deg
A simple dimensional analysis reveals that the independent and the reduced frequency is 0.1. Dynamic stall with vortex
variables for wind turbines with a symmetrical airfoil blade shedding is thus to be expected for a good duration of the cy-
operating at relatively low angular velocities are the following: cle. The presence of this phenomenon is reported in [2]. The
Reynolds number : oiRc/v Reynolds number is then indirectly a similitude criteria since it
Tip speed ratio : wR/U^ defines the onset of the static stall.
Curvature parameter: c/R
Pitch rate parameter : ca/oiR Experimental
The dependent variables are the pressure, forces, and moment The primary objective was to measure the tangential and
coefficients. The pitch rate parameter can be related to the normal aerodynamic forces (FT and FN) experienced by the
reduced frequency parameter, k, used in helicopter blade rotor blade for different values of offset pitch angle (a 0 ), tip
aerodynamics speed ratios (X), and number of blades (ri). The results
presented here will deal only with a„ = 0 and n - 2. Figure 4
k= camm/(wRx2anm) shows the principles of the force measuring system. The radius
for a mean value of incidence equal to zero. For the Darrieus and height of the rotor were, respectively, 0.3 m and 0.6 m.
wind turbine, the reduced frequency equivalent to the The central shaft was made of torsion-free steel and had a
helicopter blade is then diameter of 3.81 cm and a length of 152 cm. It was held at the
bottom by two ball bearings mounted inside a 18 cm steel
k = c/2R ( X - l)tan- > [X2 - 1 ] " l / 2 tube. The horizontal arm consisted of a hollow beam entirely
As indicated in Fig. 3, the equivalent reduced frequency of a covered by streamline aluminum sheets. The beam carried the
Darrieus wind turbine with a typical curvature parameter c/R blade supports, the force transducers and the amplifiers. Care
of 0.1 is in excess of 0.05. In this case, as reported by was taken to orient the bearings of the measuring system (axis
McCroskey [1], the machine is prone to strong dynamic stall of the blade suports shafts) in order to measure a single
with the presence of vortex shedding if the angle of attack ex- aerodynamic component. The amplified signals were transmit-
ceeds the angle for static stall. Figure 3 also indicates the max- ted via small electrical wires allong the central shaft and a
imum angle experienced by the wind turbine blade. commercial high quality slipring (AIRFLYTE, model
For the ASI/PINSON/NPI 1 kw wind turbine with the CAY-110) protected by a streamlined sheet. The rotational
following characteristics [2], speed was maintained by a variable-speed electrical motor

Nomenclature

C = airfoil chord
cD = lift coefficient Ua = undisturbed upstream air da/dt
cD = drag coefficient speed angle for static stall
FT = tangential aerodynamic force a = angle of incidence of the blade azimuth angle of the blade
FN = normal aerodynamic force with the relative air speed X tip speed ratio: u>R/U„
k = reduced frequency a0 = offset pitch angle of the blade 03 angular speed of the rotor

Journal of Solar Energy Engineering MAY 1986, Vol. 108/141

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o) X =5

r& j&

b) X =4

c) X =3

0.6

+2

Fig. 5 Measured static data fo NACA 0018 at Rey = 3.8 x 104

with an electronic feedback control on the rpm. The structural +3


e) X = 2,0
resonance occurred at a measured frequency of 50 Hz while
2
the rotational speed was associated to a 5 Hz frequency.
Analog filters were used to remove the contamination of the
signals by resonance. Corrections for this analog filtering were
applied to the data and proved to be important with respect to
both the phase shift and the amplitude of the signals.
The blades were made from balsa wood to minimize the cen-
trifugal forces. They were manufactured on a milling machine
with a flycutter whose NACA 0018 profile had been obtained
with a N.C. machine. The blades' contour were then con-
trolled on an optical comparator. The blade chord length was DOWNSTREAM UPSTREAM
6.1 cm, giving a solidity ratio, c/R, of 0.2. The blades' sur- I l l I I i I I I I I I I ' ' i I ' i t i I ' i i

faces were lightly polished and protected with beeswax. The


lower part of the blades were reinforced with a thin layer of ALPHA (DEGREES)
polyester resin over a length of 7 cm. The other end of the Fig. 6 Dynamic CL for NACA 0018 at Rey = 3.8 x 10"; [a) X = 5; b) \ =
blades were held to the central shaft by two guitar wires from 4 (Rey = 5 x 10"; c) X = 3; d) A = 2.5; e) X = 2]
the quarter chord point. The additional drag introduced by
these wires was found of the order of the precision of the
Results
measurements.
The effect of the centrifugal forces on both the normal and Since the rotational speed of the wind turbine was limited to
tangential transducers were determined experimentally. With 300 rpm, the blade experienced an average Reynolds number
the blades shielded by a fairing, the rotor was maintained at of 3.8 x 104. From the static data obtained with the same
different angular velocities and the output of the transducers blade and mounting system, cf Fig. 5, the angle for static stall
recorded. This effect of the centrifugal forces were later was estimated at ± 10.5 deg. Referring to Fig. 3, the occur-
removed from the experimental data as an offset d-c value. rence of dynamic stall can be expected for tip speed ratios less
The precision of the data has been evaluated as follow: than 5 since it is a domain where araax in the cycle exceeds 10.5
deg. For X = 5, the reduced frequency is 0.124. The
Reynolds number : ±0.5 percent phenomenon of vortex-shedding can then be expected accord-
CD : ±1.5 percent (/*= 1.5) to ± 5 percent ing to the classification suggested by McCoskey [1].
(A = 5) Figure 6 shows the evolution of the lift coefficient curves as
CL : ± 4 percent (/i= 1.5) to ±12 percent the tip speed ratio is reduced from 5 to 2.0, and Fig. 7 shows
(X=5) the drag coefficient curves. Positive values of a are associated
6 : ± 1 / 3 degree with upstream positions while negative values are associated
The tests were performed in the wind tunnel with variable test with downstream positions where the airfoil can be interfered
section of the Mechanical Engineering Department of the with by the wakes of the second blade and the central shaft.
Universite de Sherbrooke. All the walls were removed for an The first analysis of the measured data (solid lines) indicates
open jet configuration and, at the wind turbine location, the that the lift coefficient is not zero at null incidence. This can
section area was 1.82 m X 1.82 m. No corrections were ap- mainly be attributed to the definition of a that does not incor-
plied for blockage effect. porate the induced angle associated with the presence of the

142/Vol. 108, MAY 1986 Transactions of the ASME

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a) X= 5

;Si b) X =4

-0.5
+ 1.0
X=3

Fig. 8 Estimated wake location for different X and c/R = 0.2

not strongly interfered by secondary flow (except for X > 4),


d) X = 2,5 and increases its incidence from 0 to an angle ranging from
11.3 deg (X = 5.0) to 30 deg (X = 2.0). As indicated by the lift
curves of Fig. 6, the airfoil experiences regimes where a ex-
ceeds the angle for static stall and in so doing is subjected to
dynamic stall.
For increasing angles of incidence that are smaller than ass,
the slope of the lift curves follow reasonably well the static lift
curve slope. In the case of X = 4 and 5, the lift curve for a
range of small a, does not have the same slope as the one of
the static lift curve. This difference can be attributed to the
:ft wake shed by the second airfoil and that is carried slowly
downstream. This correction in the area of 6 = 0 influences
the flow patterns around the airfoil and the slope of the lift
curve can be expected different from the equal dCL/da at a =
0.
As the value of X is reduced, this difference becomes smaller
(X = 4) and disappears (X = 3) since the velocity of the on-
coming flow is increased and allows for the removal of this
wake from the airfoil path. The transport velocity of the wake
has been estimated at 0.7 £/„ from a flow visualization in a
water tunnel [4] and its mean location is sketched in Fig. 8 for
different values of X. The X = 4 and 5 cases exhibit a
-0.5 minimum CD for nonzero angles of incidence and supports the
-30 -20 -10 ,0 10
ALPHA(DEGREES)
hypothesis of the second blade's wake interacting in the region
of 6 = 0.
Fig. 7 Dynamic CD for N A C A 0018 at Rey = 3.8 x 1 0 4 ; [ a ) X = 5 ; b ) X =
4 (Rey = 5 x 1 0 4 ; c) X = 3; d) X = 2.5; e) X = 2] a) Cases of X < 3. For these tip speed ratios, the kinematic
angle is larger than ass and the lift curves (solid lines) can be
wind turbine in the air stream. This behavior can also be par- divided in four regions: the first, from an incidence of 0 to 5
tially explained by the apparent camber of the airfoil as the deg, with a slope similar to the static data; the second, from 5
turbine rotates. Finally, it can be argued [3] that for a sym- deg to 14 deg, with a linear slope, but slightly reduced by com-
metrical airfoil in an oscillatory motion around a zero mean parison with the static data slope; the third one is a small
angle of incidence, the lift coefficient cannot be zero because plateau extending from 14 deg to 19 deg. The fourth region (a
of the inertia and the momentum of the fluid in the boundary < 19 deg) exhibits a sharp peak with a maximum CL value
layer. that can be the double of the static stall value. This important
The dashed lines shown in Figs. 6 and 7 are the measured increase in lift is followed almost immediately by an equally
coefficients when corrected for the wake-induced angle. The important decrease in lift.
corrections of the kinematic angle were estimated using a local This behavior of the lift curve resembles the classic descrip-
circulation model developed in [6]. Since the dynamic stall tion of the deep dynamic stall (X < 3). As the static linear
phenomenon is not taken into account in this model, these regime is extended, the boundary layer on the upper surface,
corrections should be considered valid for angles smaller than (in this case the surface facing the central shaft), undergoes a
ass and qualitative in the dynamic stall regime. It is interesting flow reversal (second region). The subsequent slope reduction
to note that the wake induced angles for these tests are of the (third region) can be associated with the growth of a leading
order of 5 deg when 6 = 0. edge vortex, and the ulterior slope steepening can be
associated with the detachment of this vortex and its motion
Analysis of the Data (Solid Lines): Region 0 < 0 < 90 over the airfoil upper surface. The maximum, followed by a
deg rapid decay, occurs when the vortex extends over the airfoil
The motion of the airfoil in this quadrant resembles an air- upper surface, passes the trailing edge and ceases to generate
foil oscillating in pitch. The airfoil, as it moves upstream, is its lift. The drag curves in this quadrant agree with this

Journal of Solar Energy Engineering MAY 1986, Vol. 108/143

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description. For small incidences, the curve resembles the larger than cess. The reduced frequency is 0.132 in this case.
static drag curve and CD is approximately 0.1 at 10 deg. However, dynamic stall, as indicated by the lift curve, occurs
As ctss (10.5 deg) is passed, the flow reversal in the boundary as a is decreasing after a max . The vortex, as it was permitted to
layer allows as well for the linear range extension of CL as for begin to form with increasing a, is not allowed to develop
the reduction of the drag coefficient. As the leading edge before a decreases. As a result, the vortex effect is less pro-
vortex grows, detaches, and moves over the airfoil surface, the nounced and one can classify this regime as a light stall. The
drag coefficient increases significantly and reaches values 3 drag curve clearly indicates the sharp increase as the vortex is
times the static CD (X< 3). This deep stall is completed in the in its early formation. The drag coefficient reaches value four
second quadrant. It is worth noting that this activity occurs on to five times the drag coefficient of unstalled conditions (X =
the airfoil surface facing the rotor central shaft and, if a 5) as the angle of incidence is reduced.
vortex is shed, this vortex could interact with the airfoil in
c) Cases of X = 2.5 and 2.0. The regimes of these tip speed
some other quadrants.
ratios are an evolution of the X = 3 case. The drag curves as
b) Cases of n = 4 and 5. For X = 4 and 5, the equivalent well as the lift curves indicate the formation of a leading edge
angles of incidence are not sufficently in excess of ass to pro- vortex that is further set in motion over the airfoil surface fac-
voke the steepening of the lift curve slope in this quadrant. ing the central shaft. The major difference between X = 3,
Yet, in the case of X = 4, the lift curve has a larger lift as a is 2.5, and 2 is the shedding of the vortex at the trailing edge.
reduced from the maximum. This increased lift is also accom- In the case of X = 3, the vortex is shed and the rotor motion
pained by a significant drag increase. One could then conclude allows for a blade location away from the zone at action of the
the presence of a leading-edge vortex in formation. On the vortex that is carried downstream. Reattachment of the boun-
other hand, this formation is restricted because of the small in- dary layer is possible and could explain the significant drag
cursion in the dynamic range of a. reduction. In the case of X = 2.0, the data of the lift coeffi-
cient indicate a second increase in lift. This phenomenon can
be attributed to a secondary vortex as well as to the shed
Region 90 deg < 0 < 180 deg vortex interacting with the airfoil surface in its downstream
This region witnesses the termination of the dynamic motion. In addition, it is also worthy to note that the pitching
behaviors of the precedent quadrant. The airfoil relative rate parameter quadruples at 8 = 180 deg (from - 0 1 to
velocity is slowing down while the pitch rate parameter in- -0.4) as the tip speed ratio is reduced from 3 to 1.5. In
creases towards its maximum at 8 = 180 deg. The airfoil in- helicopter blade aerodynamics, it as been observed that an in-
cidence in this region mostly decreases from its maximum. crease of the reduced frequency causes a delay in vortex shed-
ding. A flow visualization by R. H. Wickens [4] indicates that
a) Case of X = 3. For this case, the lift curve from the
in the range 115 deg < 8 < 180 deg, a vortex is present at X =
preceding region suggests the formation of a first vortex and
2 close to the airfoil surface which faces the central shaft. The
its shedding. As a continues to be reduced, the lift curve
available evidence tends to indicate that the shed vortex is
follows a second linear regime. This linear regime extends even
responsible for the second peak in the lift curve.
to negative values of a and is characterized by a slope close to
the static lift curve slope. For portion of positive decreasing
angles of incidence, the airfoil is undergoing negative lift. This
Region 180 deg-360 deg
indicates that the airfoil surface on the outside of the rotor is
generating lift in combination with the shed vortex (clockwise In the region 180 deg < 8 < 270 deg, the lift curve is pro-
vorticity) and the oncoming flow that are acting on the airfoil longed with the same linear slope as the one at 180 deg,
surface facing the central shaft. This interaction, responsible especially when dynamic stall has occurred (X < 4). The airfoil
for this surplus of negative lift, is a direct function of X as the changes from a null incidence to negative a as the blade
distance between the shed vortex and the airfoil depends on X. rotates from 8 = 180 to 270 deg. This linear slope is main-
An important reduction in lift occurs at a — 19 deg while the tained to incidences up to - 15 deg (X < 3), approximately 4.5
drag coefficient undergoes a dramatic increase at a s 16.5 deg passed the angle for static stall.
deg. This important increase in drag at a time earlier than the In the region 270 deg < 8 < 360, the airfoil undergoes a
reduction in lift leads again to the conclusion that the regime is more classic dynamic stall with a typical hysteresis. The vortex
a deep stall one (see Fig. 2 of [5]). A simple calculation in- shedding effect differs from the one observed in the range 90
dicates that the vortex took 0.0192 seconds (airfoil turning at deg < 8 < 180 deg. Firstly, the airfoil is placed in an opposite
300 rpm) to cover the airfoil surface. The vortex is thus mov- direction than the vortex, the airfoil moving upstream while
ing at 1/3 of the airfoil velocity; that is again in agreement the shed vortex downstream. Secondly, the airfoil surface
with the observations by McCroskey [1]. It is also interesting where the vortex forms and moves (X < 3 cases) is on the out-
to note that the drag coefficient as a is decreasing is smaller side of the rotor. In those conditions the dynamic stall is more
than the one for increasing a in the range 11 deg < ct < 18 conventional and the only minor perturbations that could in-
deg. This range corresponds to the plateau in the lift curve fluence the lift curves are the wakes from the second blade and
where the vortex shedding occurs. To the second linear regime from the rotor central shaft.
(with negative CL) observed in the lift curve corresponds a
regime of increased CD. This behavior can be the result of the
interaction of the shed vortex and the onconing flow with the Conclusion
airfoil surface facing the central shaft. This paper has related the results of an investigation dealing
with the dynamic stall experienced by a Darrieus wind turbine.
b) Cases of X = 5 and 4. For X = 5, the equivalent reduced
An analysis of the data obtained at a Reynolds number of 3.8
frequency is 0.124 and a max experienced by the airfoil is 11.5
X 104 has permitted us to conclude:
deg, one degree in excess of ass. This occurs very shortly after
8
an azimuth angle of 90 deg. The lift curve indicates that the that the aerodynamics of helicopter blades can be used in
airfoil is experiencing a no-stall regime in proximity of the order to explain some aspects of the dynamic stall of the
stall-onset regime if one refers to the classification by Mc- wind turbine blades;
Croskey and Pucci. This is confirmed by the absence of a • that dynamic stall is present for tip speed ratio less than
drastic increase in the drag. or equal to 4;
8
For X = 4, the lift curve shows a beginning of a slope that the dynamic stall changes from a light stall to a deep
steepening as a is forced to an a max of 14. 5 deg, four degrees stall as X is reduced from 4;

144/Vol. 108, MAY 1986 Transactions of the ASME

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9
References that a vortex forms, develops on the leading edge, and
then moves on the airfoil surface for X < 3; the vortex
1 McCroskey, W. J., "The Phenomenon of Dynamic Stall," NASA moves on the airfoil surface with 1/3 of the airfoil speed;
Technical Memorandum 81264, Mar. 1981.
2 Noll, R. B., and Ham, N. B., "Effects of Dynamic Stall on SWECS," • that the vortex shedding is depending on X and that an in-
ASME JOURNAL OF SOLAR ENERGY ENGINEERING, Vol. 104, May 1982, pp. teraction between the shed vortex and the blade occurs
96-101. with X < 2.5.
3 Reid, G. Elliot, "Airfoil Lift with Changing Angle of Attack," NACA
Technical note no 266. Acknowledgments
4 Wickens, R. H., Film and Private Communication.
5 McCroskey, W. J., and Pucci, S. L., "Viscous-Inviscid Interaction on The authors wishes to thank J. Cote, M. Aubert, D.
Oscillating Airfoils in Subsonic Flow," AIAA Journal, Vol. 20, No. 2, Feb. Lambert, C. Lachapelle, and V. D. Nguyen for their contribu-
1982, pp. 167-174.
6 Masse, " A Local-Circulation Model for the Vertical Axis Wind Turbine," tions. This research project was supported partly by I.R.E.Q.
to be published in AIAA Journal of Energy. and partly by N.S.E.R.C. of Canada.

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