Summary of IEA R&D Wind Joint Action Symposium #16 on

Aerodynamics for Wind Turbines

5th and 6th of May 2003, Boulder, USA Bjrn Montgomerie and Sven-Erik Thor

Background This meeting was the 16th in the series of Joint Action Symposiums on Aerodynamics for wind turbines. The meeting was held at NREL, Boulder, Colorado, USA. The meeting gathered 21 participants representing 9 different countries. The meeting was held on May 5 and 6 immediately followed by the kick-off meeting for the new Annex XX, HAWT Aerodynamics and Models from Wind Tunnel Measurements. Presentations In brevity the following topics were presented and discussed. Day 1 Christian Masson: Rotor/Nacelle Interactions: Thermal Analysis and Anemometry The variation in ambient temperature was shown to be the cause of nacelle anemometer readout variation. Comparison between measured wind speed, at a reference location, and the wind speed, as measured on the nacelle anemometer was used to compare results from CFD calculations. The latter included heat transfer around the protruding heat exchanger on the Tacke type of nacelles. Rdinger Rebstock: Measurement Techniques at High Reynolds Numbers A general presentation of the Duitse Nederlandse Windtunnel (DNW) tunnel capabilities, with an emphasis on the cryogenic KKK wind tunnel, was first given followed by visualization techniques such as schlieren technique for the flow field, transition in the boundary layer on a wing and the European project DATA, which was set up to measure noise from the rotor blades. Peter A. Schaffarczyk: Selected Results of Experimental Investigations for a Thick Wind Turbine Profile at High Reynolds Number The wind tunnel measurements presented dealt with the characteristics for clean, tripped, rough and Guerney flap airfoils. Interestingly a comparison with Delft University of Technology (DUT) measurements was part of the presentation. Holger Winkler: Numerical Investigations on Transitional Behavior of Thick Airfoils for Wind Turbines at High Reynolds Number CFD calculations for 2D aero data for several profiles were presented. These were partly compared with measured data. The S809 airfoil, used throughout the length of the NREL blade, was included in the sequence of profiles investigated. Evangelos Politis: Phenomenological Modeling of Vortex Generators The European project KNOWBLADE furnished the base for the vortex generator (VG) investigations. A basic work assumption is that the 2D boundary layer and the vortex coming off the VG have flows that can be superposed. Model equations resulted. Results were compared with CFD calculations. Also comparisons of pressure distributions and aerodynamic coefficient curves from measurement were presented.

Bjrn Montgomerie: Tip Vortex Concentration Behavior In reality the outer half of the trailing vortex sheet rolls up very quickly into a concentrated tip vortex. That effect should be modeled for several reasons. Firstly it represents physical reality. Secondly it lends itself to be included in the induction calculation in a loads/performance program, because of a dramatic lowering of the number of nodes in the wake allowing also aeroelastic simulation. Thirdly, it is automatically dynamic taking care of yawing, gusting and other dynamic events like pitching. Previously different add-on methods have been applied in that context. A fourth advantage is that iteration is not necessary. An ongoing measurement project in a small wind tunnel at FFA was described. Ruud van Roy: Estimating the Circulation Distribution An experimental setup in a small free jet wind tunnel at DUT was described. A model was derived and compared with measured results. Slightly opposed to the simplified model of Montgomerie was the DUT assumption that a vortex sheet lives on after the tip concentration has taken place. Thus, the DUT method includes trailing root vortices, a bound vortex, a tip vortex and a vortex sheet in between the vortices from the tip and the root. Jeppe Johansen: Method for Extracting Airfoil Data using 3D CFD Computations An interesting study with surprising results was presented. By analysis of the 3D flow, as generated from the 3D CFD Ellipsys code induction, angle of attack and the aerodynamic coefficients were extracted. The induction (a) was obtained from an azimuthal average in the disk plane. Using that induction an underestimate of a, at the blade, approaching the tip, is made. As a consequence the angle of attack on the blade element is exaggerated, which would lead to too high a loading. This was compensated for by lowering the CL slope in the tip region. Thereby, the need for the Prandtl tip correction factor is non-existent. It has been compensated for by means of the lowering of the lift slope. This also can accomplish the required balance of the momentum flux loss with thrust on the rotor. The method does, however, require a new definition of angle of attack. The authors of the presented paper use a term reduced velocity method. A reader of that report might want analogously to call the angle of attack the reduced angle of attack. This turn-around of definitions may be seen as a surprise. Koert Lindenburg: Aeroelastic Stability Analysis at ECN Wind Energy This presentation was a refresher and a reminder what wind turbine aerodynamics is to be used for. Koert went through a set of generic aeroelastic problems and a corresponding set of research programs to counter the lack of understanding of those problems. A reader can conclude that the most difficult problem is stall induced edgewise vibrations in tree-bladed rotors, where the core of the difficulty lies in the description of the aerodynamic data of BEM type. New problems ahead are the very large turbines whose blades tend to be subject to classical airplane wing flutter, which has not been a practical problem because of the high torsional stiffness of all blades manufactured so far. The use of artificial stability by means of active control was also presented. Scott Schreck: Rotationally Modified Turbine Blade Flow Fields Scott went through the NREL/NASA/Ames wind tunnel tests and a description of the test equipment and data acquisition. A statement of the present knowledge was listed. The phenomena of the flow caused by rotation were discussed such as the stall delay near the root and a peculiar stall feature at a certain wind speed. A comparison between Ellypsys3D calculations and measured data was presented.

Day 2 Helge A. Madsen: A New Methods for Prediction of Detailed Wake Loads Madsen presented a new method for calculating loads on turbines operating in wakes of another turbine. The wake deficit is modeled with a 3D actuator disc model in a CFD context. Meandering based on atmospheric turbulence is seen as important. It is based on crossturbulence. A number of interesting results were presented. Half wake operation is a fatigue life consuming situation. Model verification is ongoing. This work couples with the activity carried out by the next presentation by D. Medici. Davide Medici: Wind Turbine Wakes under Different Running Conditions Showed a way to deflect a wake of a turbine. This may be a way to avoid loading a downstream turbine with a wake from an upstream turbine. Results from wind tunnel tests were presented. It is possible to deflect the wake, showed wind tunnel tests. More tests for different turbulence levels will be carried out in the ongoing doctorial thesis research program. Xabier Munduate: Wind Tunnel Measurements of a HAWT Blade Passing Tower Shadow Tower shadow effects on inflow wind field have been studied in a wind tunnel test at the University of Glasgow. Effect on a blade in a downwind system was studied. Tests were carried out in the wind tunnel program for three wind velocities: 9m/s, 11m/s and 11.7m/s. The corresponding Reynolds numbers at the tower are Re= 43.000, 52.000 and 56.000. The reason for the choice of these velocities and the tower diameter, was in order to get a similar number to the NREL machine. An extension of the same presentation will be presented at the ASME Fluids Division 2003 conference this July 6th-10th. Engineering

Ruud van Rooij: Deriving the Inflow Angle at Field Test with "Rfoil" With results from the open jet wind tunnel at the Delft University as a starting point several methods of estimating the angle of attack were discussed. Flow direction probes and flags were discussed, both disturb the flow. The pressure distribution on the blade, if available can provide angle of attack data when compared to RFOIL distributions. RFOIL contains equations which model the radial flow on the profile. It was therefore seen adequate for the purpose. The method was said to provide a learning how to create 3D data. 3D effects strongly affect the angle of attack estimate. Gerard Schepers: The Annexlyse project Annexlyse , Analysis of Full Scale Aerodynamic Measurements Anexlyse is a national Dutch project. This is mainly a continuation of the IEA Annex XVIII project (1997-2001). The data can be accessed in the web based database. Also the task report can be found on the Internet. Background projects were: DS3D, dynamic stall and 3 D effects VISCEL ROTOW rotor tower interaction Annex XIV Annex XVIII

The presentation provides a good overview of what has been accomplished in this field so far. Preliminary observations on 3D models indicate that there is only moderate agreement for 3D models applied. The Himmelskamp/Snel factor chord/radius is to be raised to different values depending on the data studied. The exponent, which was originally 2.0 in the Snel theoretical report, has better correlated with 1.0 in some data observed and also from a theoretical standpoint. There is solid evidence that qualitatively the largest difficulties to predict data occur near the root and near the tip.

Discussion A discussion rounded off the meeting. Many participants expressed that it is difficult to defend the importance of aerodynamic research for wind turbines. Questions to be answered are for example how much cheaper/more efficient will a wind turbine be with better models for 3D flow and dynamic stall. The reason is obvious, namely that qualitatively the predictive tools will benefit from further research and quantitatively it is impossible to give a number. The meeting was, however, convinced that improved models will be important. How much better are we predicting aerodynamic performance today? It was concluded that again it is impossible to give specific figures on that. But there was a general feeling that the uncertainties in the predictions of aerodynamic performance have been decreased during the last 10 years. Still there is a need to do better, especially regarding effects on large turbines. Uncertainties must be reduced, especially as some of the future turbines will be very large, which might imply high costs of errors in predicted performance. Bench marking could be used to show the importance of aerodynamics research. There was a proposal to set up a verification/validation program to run a number of computer simulations incorporating different level of refinements regarding aerodynamic effects. Finally this could be compared to actual measurements on for example the combined experiment in the NASA wind tunnel. A question was raised whether it is necessary to develop improved models for dynamic stall effects. Schreck, Madsen and Schepers meant that this topic combined with 3-dimensional (rotational) flow effects and aero elastic interaction is still of importance especially for developing large wind turbines. There are still concerns on how to integrate dynamic stall effects and rotational effects in simulations. Linear superposition may not be sufficiently accurate. Lindenburgs ideas of how to integrate dynamic stall and aeroelasticity in the Phatas code was considered interesting. Individual cyclic pitch of turbine blades was discussed. Some proposed that this may be used to relieve blade loads and to yaw the nacelle. Others questioned if this method can be economically implemented in real turbines and meant that a two-bladed machine with teeter will also relieve blade loads. Studies are undertaken in at least the Netherlands and USA in order to study the advantages of the cyclic pitch. Madsen demonstrated in his presentation how wake meandering can be introduced in prediction of wake loads. Earlier methods/standards treated wakes as added turbulence. This approach did not account for the partial wake loads which may be introduced when a turbine

is partly in the wake of an upstream turbine. This new approach was considered to be most interesting. Bigger turbines may require better modeling and increased awareness of coupling between flexible blades (large deflections) and the resulting aerodynamic characteristics due to blade deflection/torsion. Aerodynamic tailoring of large blades (e.i. special lay up of glass fiber in order to achieve coupling between bending and torsion) may be advantageous, especially if interaction between control system and blade loading is implemented. What is the future of CFD? Johansen demonstrated in his presentation that it is possible to extract airfoil data using 3D CFD computations. There is still a need for faster and bigger (more memory) computers, this will make it possible to make more detailed grids and include more effects. Better turbulence models were also mentioned as being in the focus for further development. There is still a long time before CFD calculations can be included in full scale aero elastic calculations of wind turbines. Engineering methods are still of vital importance. It was mentioned that CFD computations is a separate skill. You have be a good expert to run them and to interpret results. Butterfield concluded by saying that continued testing, analyzing and tuning of models will push the frontiers onward. Participants have large expectations on the work and results that will be produced within Annex XX Aerodynamics and Models from Wind Tunnel Measurements.

Future studies: A final question was raised on the subject of further research. The list below shows the intentions of the participant future research: Develop Vortex wake models Near wake model (for performance and loads at the turbine that generated the wake) Far wake model (for performance and loads at the turbine that is hit by the wake) Prescribed wakes although advocated against because time simulation can be used instead Rotational augmentation, 3D effects Dirt and abrasion effects on transition, separation and performance Turbulent inflow Atmospheric boundary layer modeling Low level jets CFD methods especially turbulence models CFD experiments with extraction of angle of attack, CL, CD and Cm for BEM modeling Simulations and comparison with actual behaviour (Annex XX) Dynamic stall modeling Unsteady aerodynamics Basic studies of yawed wakes Complex stall appearing locally as evidenced in some results from the NREL experiment Tower shadow Beam Element Methods in aeroelastic simulation (instead of modal formulation) Improvement of engineering models

Artificial control of stability More NASA tests, a second project may be within reach 3D actuator disc model development Aerodynamics of parked rotors, background data are lacking Aeroacoustics The following large projects on aerodynamics were mentioned: IEA Annex XX KNOWBLADE, EU project Why do we over predict power using CFD methods Vortex generators Flow features of direct interest to manufactures Coupling CFD and structure MEXICO, EU-project with participation from NREL Future of Annex XI Aero meetings A discussion was held on the subject of how to continue the exchange of aerodynamic knowledge in the future. Especially in the light of the fact that Annex XX has started the aeromining activities. It was considered to be a duplication of efforts to run both Annex XX and Annex XI aero meetings during the time frame when Annex XX is in operation. It was proposed that Annex XI aero meetings are co-arranged with Annex XX in the future. This was accepted by the Operating Agent, Schreck. Thor was given the task to propose this to the IEA Executive Committee.