Computational Study ofWind Turbine Performance and Loading Response to Turbulent Inflow Conditions

摘要

Performance and loading patterns on wind turbine blades are analyzed using a coupled fluid/structure analysis method.rnTwo distinct aerodynamic prediction methodologies are implemented and compared with one another. One method isrna high complexity analysis that utilizes overset grid based computational fluid dynamics to model the exact geometryrnof turbine blades and the other method is a low complexity analysis that utilizes a free vortex wake method. Both ofrnthese aerodynamic predictions methodologies are combined with a multi-body structural analysis system to create arncoupled framework that can faithfully represent the physics of rotating elastic blades. Turbulent inflow is introducedrnby developing interfaces that can prescribe atmospheric flow field data obtained from numerical weather predictionrntools. Three different test cases are studied in order to highlight and characterize the prediction capabilities of both thernapproaches. In addition, the sensitivity of power and blade loading are characterized for various turbulence levels andrnturbine placement scenarios.