基于CFD技术的垂直轴风力机动态尾流特性研究

利用CFD软件对麦克马斯特大学垂直轴风力机进行不同叶尖速比下的数值模拟,计算结果与风洞试验数据吻合良好。近场尾流中,与单叶片的风力机模拟结果比较,上游叶片产生并向下游延伸的旋涡影响下游运行轨道上叶片的升阻力特性,不仅使叶片扭矩输出峰值降低,而且峰值产生的时间延迟。对垂直轴风力机叶片叶梢进行修改,模拟结果显示,叶片扭矩输出峰值不变,但是谷值有所降低,修改后风力机沿风向推力幅值降低明显;远场尾流中,采用风速轮廓线原理,以瑞典的法尔肯贝里市200kW垂直轴风力机为原型,按照真实的空间排布进行数值模拟。模拟结果显示,上游风力机上下两端处产生较为集中的远场尾流,影响下游风力机叶片下半段的气动性能,下游风力机功率输出降低明显。     

Improved non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm （NSGA）-II in multi-objective optimization studies of wind turbine blades

The non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA) is improved with the controlled elitism and dynamic crowding distance. A novel multi-objective optimization algorithm is obtained for wind turbine blades. As an example, a 5 MW wind turbine blade design is presented by taking the maximum power coefficient and the minimum blade mass as the optimization objectives. The optimal results show that this algorithm has good performance in handling the multi-objective optimization of wind turbines, and it gives a Pareto-optimal solution set rather than the optimum solutions to the conventional multiobjective optimization problems. The wind turbine blade optimization method presented in this paper provides a new and general algorithm for the multi-objective optimization of wind turbines.     

Independent research and development progress in large-scale wind turbine blade with coordinated aerodynamics,structure, and load

Abstract According to the three key elements in blade design process, i.e., aerodynamic design, structure design, and load prediction, the independent research and development (R&D) progress of blade design is summarized and analyzed. The calculational fluid dynamics (CFD) method, the vortex method, and the blade element momentum method (BEM) are described. Based on the widely used BEM method, the solutions for the blade design in low-speed wind area are obtained. A brief overview of the traditional design and analysis methods based on beam models is given. The defects of these methods used for simulating the structure of large-scale composite blade are analyzed. The application progress of the finite element method (FEM) used in the blade structure analysis is shown. The effects of load prediction on the blades and entire wind turbine are introduced. The progress in load forecasting is described. With the analysis of the relationship among these three key elements, it is concluded that developing a blade optimization design system with coordinated aerodynamics, structure, and load will truly meet the requirement of high efficiency and low cost. The main directions for further study are pointed out, e.g., high efficiency and low load airfoils, structural nonlinear finite element analysis, aerodynamic structure coupling research, and establishing different design standards. The aim is to establish a blade R&D system suitable for the conditions of wind resources in China and promote the development of wind power in the country.     

基于Schmitz理论的风叶气动设计研究

应用Schmitz理论进行叶片气动设计,考虑了风力机叶片的气动损失,用Schmitz理论推导出风力机叶片的基本设计参数的计算公式,并考虑了风力机在启动和空载时风力机的实际工作点偏离了设计点,对叶片的气动性能参数进行了修正。通过对200kW风力机的算例表明:随着叶片半径的增大,入流角逐渐减小;叶片弦长先增大后减小,修正后得到的风力机在非设计点处的推力、驱动力矩、功率与实际风力机的特性规律相符。     

Dynamic study of a wind turbine blade with horizontal axis

The study of the dynamic behavior of a wind turbine with horizontal axis can be undertaken by various methods of analysis. The effects of the change of the aerodynamic flow (in the steady and unsteady cases), the variation of parameters of the cinematic movement (angle of attack, pitch angle and yaw angle) and the definition of subsystems characteristics that makes the wind turbine (blade, nacelle and pylon) allow one to characterize the structural dynamic behavior of the wind turbine. It is therefore necessary to develop these items. Once this is done, the structural dynamic behavior of the system can be improved. The term `improve' means the increase of the life duration by mastering the fatigue effects and the reduction of cost without sacrificing the aerodynamic output. The present study aims to examine the behavior of the blade, which is the main part of the wind turbine in that it that transmits forces to all other parts of the structure. The model is based on the theory of three-dimensional beams, under the assumption of variable sections of the type NACA 4415 airfoil, and takes into account membrane, transversal shear, flexion and free torsion effects. With regards to the aerodynamic loads (the lift, the drag and the pitching moment), a validation has been undertaken by considering experimental data and numerical results obtained by a CFD code (Fluent). The forces are obtained by means of a parametric CAD method interpolation of the aerodynamic poles by Bézier patch under geometrical constraints solved by a Simplex type algorithm. The emphasis is put on dynamic aspects by a complete processing of the dynamic equilibrium equation, applied to the wind turbine blade with horizontal axis.     

串列风力机尾流干扰的研究简

广义致动盘方法是通过引入体积力代替叶片的致动盘技术与三维Navier-Stokes 方程相结合来获得风力机周围流场信息的一种方法. 该方法避免了花费大量网格与计算资源去求解风力机叶片的附面层,从而可以把更多的网格与计算资源用于风力机尾流流场的模拟,非常适合用于风力机尾流流场的研究. 以NH1500风力机为计算模型,将常规CFD (computational fluid dynamics) 方法与广义致动盘方法计算所得的叶片载荷分布进行比较,以验证广义致动盘方法的可行性. 然后使用广义致动盘方法对风场中串列风力机进行数值模拟,研究串列风力机之间间距变化时,上游风力机产生的尾流对下游风力机的干扰影响.     

Aeroelastic analysis of a rotating wind turbine blade using a geometrically exact formulation

In this paper, an aeroelastic analysis of a rotating wind turbine blade is performed by considering the effects of geometrical nonlinearities associated with large deflection of the blade produced during wind turbine operation. This source of nonlinearity has become more important in the dynamic analysis of flexible blades used in more recent multi-megawatt wind turbines. The structural modeling, involving the coupled edgewise, flapwise and torsional DOFs, has been performed by using a nonlinear geometrically exact beam formulation. The aerodynamic model is presented based on the strip theory, by applying the principles of quasi-steady and unsteady airfoil aerodynamics. Compared to the conventional steady aerodynamic model, the presented model offers a more realistic consideration of fluid–structure interactions. The resulting governing equation, expanded up to the third-order terms, is analyzed by using the reduced-order model (ROM). The ROM is developed by employing the coupled mode shapes of a cantilever blade under free loading condition. The specifications of the 5MW-NREL wind turbine are used in the simulation study. After verifying the ROM results by comparing them with those of the full FEM model, the model is used in additional static, modal and transient dynamics analyses. The results indicate the important effect of geometrical nonlinearity, especially for larger structural deformations. Moreover, nonlinear analyses reveal the important effects of torsion induced by lateral deformations. It is also found that the governing equation is more efficient, and sufficiently accurate, when it is developed by using the second-order kinetic terms, third-order potential terms and the second-order aerodynamic terms together with third-order damping. Finally, the effects of nonlinearities on the flutter characteristics of wind turbine blades are evaluated through frequency and dynamic analyses.     

Supercritical and subcritical dynamic flow-induced instabilities of a small-scale wind turbine blade placed in uniform flow

There is a growing interest in extracting more power per turbine by increasing the rotor size in offshore wind turbines. As a result, the turbine blades will become longer and therefore more flexible, and a flexible blade is susceptible to flow-induced instabilities. In order to design and build stable large wind turbine blades, the onset of possible flow-induced instabilities should be considered in the design process. Currently, there is a lack of experimental work on flow-induced instabilities of wind turbine blades. In the present study, a series of experiments were conducted and flow-induced instabilities were observed in wind turbine blades. A small-scale flexible blade based on the NREL 5 MW reference wind turbine blade was built using three-dimensional printing technique. The blade was placed in the test section of a wind tunnel and was subjected to uniform oncoming flow, representing the case of a parked wind turbine blade. The blade׳s tip displacement was measured using a non-contacting displacement measurement device as the oncoming wind speed was increased. At a critical wind speed, the blade became unstable and experienced limit cycle oscillations. The amplitude of these oscillations increased with increasing wind speed. Both supercritical and subcritical dynamic instabilities were observed. The instabilities were observed at different angles of attack and for blades both with and without a geometric twist. It was found that the blade twist had a significant influence on the observed instability: a blade without a twist experienced a strong subcritical instability.     

复杂大气入流下海上风机力学特性研究

随着风能技术的不断进步, 风机叶片逐渐向大型化发展, 这使得真实复杂大气入流对风机运行性能的影响愈发显著. 为研究真实复杂大气入流下海上风机的力学特性响应, 利用基于大涡模拟的域前模拟方法生成复杂大气入流, 并结合致动线模型模拟风机叶片, 对中性复杂大气入流下海上固定式风机进行数值模拟, 重点分析风机的气动性能及转子和叶片根部的力学特性, 并与均匀入流计算工况进行对比. 计算结果表明, 中性复杂大气入流中的大尺度低速气流团使得风机气动功率输出值在较长一段时间处于较低水平, 此外, 中性复杂大气入流的高湍流强度特征使得风机气动功率的变化幅值和标准差较均匀入流工况大幅增加; 风机轴向推力的标准差值增加到均匀入流的53倍, 中性复杂大气入流的来流流场扰动引起偏航力矩的最大值、均方根和标准差分别增加到均匀入流的10、4.4和4.3倍; 速度垂向分布的不均匀性以及轮毂高度附近的大尺度低速羽流结构导致摆振剪力和弯矩的标准差响应值分别为均匀入流的2倍和4.6倍.      

Lift enhancement of airfoil and tip flow control for wind turbine

Two techniques that improve the aerodynamic performance of wind turbine airfoils are described. The airfoil S809, designed specially for wind turbine blades, and the airfoil FX60-100, having a higher lift-drag ratio, are selected to verify the flow control techniques. The flow deflector, fixed at the leading edge, is employed to control the boundary layer separation on the airfoil at a high angle of attack. The multi-island genetic algorithm is used to optimize the parameters of the flow deflector. The results indicate that the flow deflector can suppress the flow separation, delay the stall, and enhance the lift. The characteristics of the blade tip vortex, the wake vortex, and the surface pressure distributions of the blades are analyzed. The vortex diffuser, set up at the blade tip, is employed to control the blade tip vortex. The results show that the vortex diffuser can increase the total pressure coefficient of the core of the vortex, decrease the strength of the blade tip vortex, lower the noise, and improve the efficiency of the blade.     

Wake impacts on aerodynamic and aeroelastic behaviors of a horizontal axis wind turbine blade for sheared and turbulent flow conditions

The magnitude and temporal variations of wind speed considerably influence aerodynamic and structural responses of MW-sized horizontal axis wind turbines. Thus, this paper investigates the variations in airloads and blade behavior of a wind turbine blade resulting from operations in sheared and turbulent flow conditions. First, in order to validate the present methods, comparisons of aerodynamic results were made among the blade element momentum method, free-wake method, and numerical results from the previous studies. Then, the validated methods were applied to a national renewable energy laboratory 5 MW reference wind turbine model for fluid–structure interaction analyses. From the numerical simulations, it can be clearly seen that unfavorable airloads and blade deformations occur due to the sheared and turbulent flow conditions. In addition, it is clear that wake impacts are not as substantial at those of high wind speeds; however, the effects obviously affect the aerodynamic and structural behaviors of the blade at lower wind speeds. Therefore, it is concluded that the numerical results markedly indicate the demand for accurate assessment of wake dynamics for accurate estimations of the aerodynamic and structural responses for sheared and turbulent flow environments.     

Investigation of horizontal-axis wind turbine (HAWT) blade threedimensional rotational effect based on field experiments

Field experiments are performed on a two-bladed 33 kW horizontal-axis wind turbine (HAWT). The pressures are measured with 191 pressure sensors positioned around the surfaces of seven spanwise section airfoils on one of the two blades. Three-dimensional (3D) and two-dimensional (2D) numerical simulations are performed, respectively, on the rotor and the seven airfoils of the blade. The results are compared with the experimental results of the pressure distribution on the seven airfoils and the lift coefficients. The 3D rotational effect on the blade aerodynamic characteristics is then studied with a numerical approach. Finally, some conclusions are drawn as follows. From the tip to the root of the blade, the experimental differential pressure of the blade section airfoil increases at first and then decreases gradually. The calculated 3D result of the pressure distribution on the blade surface is closer to that of the experiment than the 2D result. The 3D rotational effect has a significant impact on the blade surface flow and the aerodynamic load, leading to an increase of the differential pressure on the airfoils and their lift coefficient than that with the 2D one because of the stall delay. The influence of the 3D rotational effect on the wind turbine blade especially takes place on the sections with flow separation.     

Flow field studies on a micro-air-vehicle-scale cycloidal rotor in forward flight

This paper examines the flow physics and principles of force production on a cycloidal rotor (cyclorotor) in forward flight. The cyclorotor considered here consists of two blades rotating about a horizontal axis, with cyclic pitch angle variation about the blade quarter-chord. The flow field at the rotor mid-span is analyzed using smoke flow visualization and particle image velocimeV are compared with flow fields predicted using 2D CFD and time-averaged force measurements acquired in an open-jet wind tunnel at three advance ratios. It is shown that the experimental flow field is nearly two dimensional at μ = 0.73 allowing for qualitative comparisons to be made with CFD. The incoming flow velocity decreases in magnitude as the flow passes through the retreating (upper) half of the rotor and is attributed to power extraction by the blades. A significant increase in flow velocity is observed across the advancing (lower) half of the rotor. The aerodynamic analysis demonstrates that the blades accelerate the flow through the lower aft region of the rotor, where they operate in a high dynamic pressure environment. This is consistent with CFD-predicted values of instantaneous aerodynamic forces which reveal that the aft section of the rotor is the primary region of force production. Phase-averaged flow field measurements showed two blade wakes in the flow, formed by each of the two blades. Analysis of the blades at several azimuthal positions revealed two significant blade-wake interactions. The locations of these blade-wake interactions are correlated with force peaks in the CFD-predicted instantaneous blade forces and highlight their importance to the generation of lift and propulsive force of the cyclorotor.     

A brief review on wind turbine aerodynamics

This article briefly reviews wind turbine aerodynamics, which follows an explanation of the aerodynamic complexity. The aerodynamic models including blade momentum theory, vortex wake model, dynamic stall and rotational effect, and their applications in wind turbine aerodynamic performance prediction are discussed and documented. Recent progress in computational fluid dynamics for wind turbine is addressed. Wind turbine aerodynamic experimental studies are also selectively introduced.     

A nonlinear model for aerodynamic configuration of wake behind horizontal-axis wind turbine

Determination of the aerodynamic configuration of wake is the key to analysis and evaluation of the rotor aerodynamic characteristics of a horizontal-axis wind turbine.According to the aerodynamic configuration, the real magnitude and direction of the onflow velocity at the rotor blade can be determined, and subsequently, the aerodynamic force on the rotor can be determined. The commonly employed wake aerodynamic models are of the cylindrical form instead of the actual expanding one. This is because the influence of the radial component of the induced velocity on the wake configuration is neglected. Therefore, this model should be called a "linear model". Using this model means that the induced velocities at the rotor blades and aerodynamic loads on them would be inexact. An approximately accurate approach is proposed in this paper to determine the so-called "nonlinear" wake aerodynamic configuration by means of the potential theory,where the influence of all three coordinate components of the induced velocity on wake aerodynamic configuration is taken into account to obtain a kind of expanding wake that approximately looks like an actual one. First, the rotor aerodynamic model composed of axial(central), bound, and trailing vortexes is established with the help of the finite aspect wing theory. Then, the Biot-Savart formula for the potential flow theory is used to derive a set of integral equations to evaluate the three components of the induced velocity at any point within the wake. The numerical solution to the integral equations is found,and the loci of all elementary trailing vortex filaments behind the rotor are determined thereafter. Finally, to formulate an actual wind turbine rotor, using the nonlinear wake model, the induced velocity everywhere in the wake, especially that at the rotor blade,is obtained in the case of various tip speed ratios and compared with the wake boundary in a neutral atmospheric boundary layer. Hereby, some useful and referential conclusions are offered for the aerodynamic computation and design of the rotor of the horizontal-axis wind turbine.     

基于涡尾迹方法的风力机气动性能分析

基于(势流)涡尾迹方法开发了水平轴风力机叶片气动性能分析程序,采用固定尾迹涡模型和自由尾迹模型分别对气动设计性能进行计算分析,得到风力机设计工况下的涡位置、诱导因子、功率系数及扭矩系数等气动性能参数,并与设计结果对比。结果表明,涡尾迹方法能够快速准确地计算风力机叶片气动性能参数,对风力机叶片气动分析,固定尾迹涡模型较自由尾迹模型计算时间短,具有较好的实用性。     

Dynamic wind loads and wake characteristics of a wind turbine model in an atmospheric boundary layer wind

An experimental study was conducted to characterize the dynamic wind loads and evolution of the unsteady vortex and turbulent flow structures in the near wake of a horizontal axis wind turbine model placed in an atmospheric boundary layer wind tunnel. In addition to measuring dynamic wind loads (i.e., aerodynamic forces and bending moments) acting on the wind turbine model by using a high-sensitive force-moment sensor unit, a high-resolution digital particle image velocimetry (PIV) system was used to achieve flow field measurements to quantify the characteristics of the turbulent vortex flow in the near wake of the wind turbine model. Besides conducting “free-run” PIV measurements to determine the ensemble-averaged statistics of the flow quantities such as mean velocity, Reynolds stress, and turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) distributions in the wake flow, “phase-locked” PIV measurements were also performed to elucidate further details about evolution of the unsteady vortex structures in the wake flow in relation to the position of the rotating turbine blades. The effects of the tip-speed-ratio of the wind turbine model on the dynamic wind loads and wake flow characteristics were quantified in the terms of the variations of the aerodynamic thrust and bending moment coefficients of the wind turbine model, the evolution of the helical tip vortices and the unsteady vortices shedding from the blade roots and turbine nacelle, the deceleration of the incoming airflows after passing the rotation disk of the turbine blades, the TKE and Reynolds stress distributions in the near wake of the wind turbine model. The detailed flow field measurements were correlated with the dynamic wind load measurements to elucidate underlying physics in order to gain further insight into the characteristics of the dynamic wind loads and turbulent vortex flows in the wakes of wind turbines for the optimal design of the wind turbines operating in atmospheric boundary layer winds.     

A Vibration Estimation Method for Wind Turbine Blades

This paper reports the development of a vibration monitoring system for wind turbine blades. This system is used to estimate the deflection at the tip blade on a wind turbine tower. Technical accidents of wind turbine blades have become increasingly common. Thus, regular monitoring of the blades is very important to prevent breakdowns, especially in cases when the blades begin to vibrate excessively. The monitoring system developed in this study satisfies two main objectives for practicality. First, our system is easy to install on existing wind turbines. Second, blade deflection is measured in real time. Our system can be operated using a few strain gages attached at the blade root, and the deflection is calculated based on the monitored stress. Thus, direct measurement of deflection at the blade tip is unnecessary. An estimation algorithm for this purpose is adopted based on the experimental modal analysis. This paper focuses on the evaluation of the estimation algorithm to investigate the feasibility of our system. Basic experiments were conducted using a simple blade model of a 300 W scaled wind turbine under rotation. Signals from the strain gages were acquired by a sensor network and sent to a computer through a wireless connection. The results show that the estimation accuracy is acceptably high. Therefore, we conclude that our proposed system is practical.     

风速不确定性对风力机气动力影响量化研究

风力机气动力学一直是国内外研究的热点课题之一.目前相关研究大都是基于确定性工况条件,但因风力机常年工作在自然来流复杂环境,风速随机波动致使风电系统呈现不确定性,对电网稳定性带来巨大挑战,因此进行不确定风速条件下风力机气动力学研究具有重要意义.为揭示不确定性对风力机流场影响机理并明确其对气动力的影响程度,本文提出一种风力机不确定空气动力学分析方法,基于修正叶素动量理论和非嵌入式概率配置点法,建立水平轴风力机不确定性空气动力学响应模型;以NREL Phase VI S809风力机叶轮为研究对象,基于该模型提取风力机输出随机响应信息,量化不确定风速对风力机风轮功率、推力、叶片挥舞弯矩和摆振弯矩的影响程度;通过分析流动诱导因子不确定性在叶片展长方向上的分布规律,揭示不确定因素在风力机本体上的传播机制,为风电系统设计及应用提供理论依据和重要参考.结果表明,风速波动对风力机功率和气动力影响显著,高斯风速标准差由0.05倍增大至0.15倍均值,功率和推力最大波动幅度分别由13.44%和8.00%增大至35.11%和22.02%,叶片挥舞弯矩和摆振弯矩最大波动幅度分别由7.20%和12.84%增大至1...     

风剪切对风力机叶片气动性能及尾迹形状的影响

风力机通常运行在非定常工况中,其气动性能及尾迹会随着工况的变化而变化.风剪切是风力机长期所处的环境,它会影响到叶片气动载荷、尾迹形状、总体性能等,分析风剪切作用下的叶片气动性能对风力机的设计有重要意义.本文采用一种时间步进自由涡尾迹(free vortex wake,FVW)方法,耦合FVW方法与风剪切模型,计算不同风...