Blade-resolved and actuator line simulations of rotor wakes

André F.P. Ribeiro, Thomas Leweke, Aliza Abraham, Jens N. Sørensen, Robert F. Mikkelsen

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

This work concerns high-fidelity numerical simulations of a rotor wake, with focus on the tip vortices and their stability. Blade-resolved and actuator line lattice-Boltzmann simulations are performed on a symmetric baseline rotor, as well as on a rotor with asymmetries. The asymmetry has the purpose of destabilizing the tip vortices to enhance wake recovery and hence the performance of potential downstream turbines. Limitations in the actuator line method are highlighted, and we show the potential of addressing these limitations with a so-called “preset” actuator line, where the forces are extracted from blade-resolved simulations, or an analytical load model, which as input only requires the thrust and power coefficients. Simulations agree well with experimental results and leapfrogging is captured, even with a coarse actuator line simulation. The asymmetric rotor is shown to improve power in the far-wake by 12%.
Original languageEnglish
Article number106477
JournalComputers and Fluids
Volume287
Number of pages16
ISSN0045-7930
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2025

Keywords

  • Instability
  • Wind turbine wake
  • Leapfrogging

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