Active Flap Tests on an 8MW Prototype Turbine - Phase 1 results

Measurements on an 8 MW wind turbine equipped with a novel active flap system are discussed and compared against corresponding aeroelastic simulations. The measurement campaign focuses on swap activations of the active flap with the purpose of model validation and field characterization of the load control authority of the system and extends over a period of five months. A load impact level between 5% and 20% is measured for the root flapwise bending moment of the blades. Overall good agreement between the aeroelastic simulations and the measurements is found, although the impact of the flaps is underestimated in the simulations for the high wind speed range. The main purpose of this article is to discuss the first phase of measurements and aeroelastic validation of the turbine equipped with active flaps as part of the collaborative research project Flow Adaptive Rotor (FAR) between Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy and DTU Wind and Energy Systems.