Accurate RANS Simulation of Wind Turbine Stall by Turbulence Coefficient Calibration
Stall, a complex phenomenon related to flow separation, is difficult to be predicted accurately. The motivation of the present study is to propose an approach to improve the simulation accuracy of Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes equations (RANS) for wind turbines in stall. The approach is...
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MDPI AG
2018-08-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/8/9/1444 |
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| author | Wei Zhong Hongwei Tang Tongguang Wang Chengyong Zhu |
| author_facet | Wei Zhong Hongwei Tang Tongguang Wang Chengyong Zhu |
| author_sort | Wei Zhong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Stall, a complex phenomenon related to flow separation, is difficult to be predicted accurately. The motivation of the present study is to propose an approach to improve the simulation accuracy of Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes equations (RANS) for wind turbines in stall. The approach is implemented in three steps in simulations of the S809 airfoil and the NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Phase VI rotor. The similarity between airfoil and rotor simulations is firstly investigated. It is found that the primary reason for the inaccuracy of rotor simulation is not the rotational effect or the 3-D effect, but the turbulence-related problem that already exists in airfoil simulation. Secondly, a coefficient of the SST turbulence model is calibrated in airfoil simulation, ensuring the onset and development of the light stall are predicted accurately. The lift of the airfoil in the light stall, which was overestimated about 30%, is reduced to a level consistent with experimental data. Thirdly, the calibrated coefficient is applied to rotor simulation. That makes the flow patterns on the blade properly simulated and the pressure distribution of the blade, as well as the torque of the rotor, are predicted more accurately. The relative error of the predicted maximum torque is reduced from 34.4% to 3.2%. Furthermore, the procedure of calibration is applied to the MEXICO (Model Experiments in Controlled Conditions) rotor, and the predicted pressure distributions over blade sections are better than the CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) results from the Mexnext project. In essence, the present study provides an approach for calibrating rotor simulation using airfoil experimental data, which enhances the potential of RANS in accurate simulation of the wind turbine aerodynamic performance. |
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| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T22:39:23Z |
| publishDate | 2018-08-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-4775a67c004841e8b06a4177313547d12022-12-22T00:47:51ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172018-08-0189144410.3390/app8091444app8091444Accurate RANS Simulation of Wind Turbine Stall by Turbulence Coefficient CalibrationWei Zhong0Hongwei Tang1Tongguang Wang2Chengyong Zhu3Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Hi-Tech Research for Wind Turbine Design, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, No. 29 Yudao St., Nanjing 210016, ChinaJiangsu Key Laboratory of Hi-Tech Research for Wind Turbine Design, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, No. 29 Yudao St., Nanjing 210016, ChinaJiangsu Key Laboratory of Hi-Tech Research for Wind Turbine Design, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, No. 29 Yudao St., Nanjing 210016, ChinaJiangsu Key Laboratory of Hi-Tech Research for Wind Turbine Design, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, No. 29 Yudao St., Nanjing 210016, ChinaStall, a complex phenomenon related to flow separation, is difficult to be predicted accurately. The motivation of the present study is to propose an approach to improve the simulation accuracy of Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes equations (RANS) for wind turbines in stall. The approach is implemented in three steps in simulations of the S809 airfoil and the NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Phase VI rotor. The similarity between airfoil and rotor simulations is firstly investigated. It is found that the primary reason for the inaccuracy of rotor simulation is not the rotational effect or the 3-D effect, but the turbulence-related problem that already exists in airfoil simulation. Secondly, a coefficient of the SST turbulence model is calibrated in airfoil simulation, ensuring the onset and development of the light stall are predicted accurately. The lift of the airfoil in the light stall, which was overestimated about 30%, is reduced to a level consistent with experimental data. Thirdly, the calibrated coefficient is applied to rotor simulation. That makes the flow patterns on the blade properly simulated and the pressure distribution of the blade, as well as the torque of the rotor, are predicted more accurately. The relative error of the predicted maximum torque is reduced from 34.4% to 3.2%. Furthermore, the procedure of calibration is applied to the MEXICO (Model Experiments in Controlled Conditions) rotor, and the predicted pressure distributions over blade sections are better than the CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) results from the Mexnext project. In essence, the present study provides an approach for calibrating rotor simulation using airfoil experimental data, which enhances the potential of RANS in accurate simulation of the wind turbine aerodynamic performance.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/8/9/1444wind turbinestallNREL Phase VIS809 airfoilMEXICORANS |
| spellingShingle | Wei Zhong Hongwei Tang Tongguang Wang Chengyong Zhu Accurate RANS Simulation of Wind Turbine Stall by Turbulence Coefficient Calibration Applied Sciences wind turbine stall NREL Phase VI S809 airfoil MEXICO RANS |
| title | Accurate RANS Simulation of Wind Turbine Stall by Turbulence Coefficient Calibration |
| title_full | Accurate RANS Simulation of Wind Turbine Stall by Turbulence Coefficient Calibration |
| title_fullStr | Accurate RANS Simulation of Wind Turbine Stall by Turbulence Coefficient Calibration |
| title_full_unstemmed | Accurate RANS Simulation of Wind Turbine Stall by Turbulence Coefficient Calibration |
| title_short | Accurate RANS Simulation of Wind Turbine Stall by Turbulence Coefficient Calibration |
| title_sort | accurate rans simulation of wind turbine stall by turbulence coefficient calibration |
| topic | wind turbine stall NREL Phase VI S809 airfoil MEXICO RANS |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/8/9/1444 |
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