Computational Methods for Modelling and Optimization of Flow Control Devices

Alejandro Ballesteros-Coll, Unai Fernandez-Gamiz, Iñigo Aramendia, Ekaitz Zulueta and Jose Manuel Lopez-Guede
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Alejandro Ballesteros-Coll: Department of Nuclear and Fluid Mechanics, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Nieves Cano, 12, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
Unai Fernandez-Gamiz: Department of Nuclear and Fluid Mechanics, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Nieves Cano, 12, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
Iñigo Aramendia: Department of Nuclear and Fluid Mechanics, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Nieves Cano, 12, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
Ekaitz Zulueta: Automatic Control and System Engineering Department, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Nieves Cano 12, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
Jose Manuel Lopez-Guede: Automatic Control and System Engineering Department, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Nieves Cano 12, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 14, 1-15

Abstract: Over the last few years, the advances in size and weight for wind turbines have led to the development of flow control devices. The current work presents an innovative method to model flow control devices based on a cell-set model, such as Gurney flaps (GFs). This model reuses the cells which are around the required geometry and a wall boundary condition is assigned to the generated region. Numerical simulations based on RANS equations and with Re = 2 × 10 6 have been performed. Firstly, a performance study of the cell-set model on GFs was carried out by comparing it with a fully mesh model of a DU91W250 airfoil. A global relative error of 1.13% was calculated. Secondly, optimum GF lengths were determined (from 0% to 2% of c) for a DU97W300 airfoil and an application of them. The results showed that for lower angles of attack (AoAs) larger GFs were needed, and as the AoA increased, the optimum GF length value decreased. For the purpose of studying the effects generated by two flow control devices (vortex generators (VGs) and optimum GF) working together, a triangular VG based on the jBAY model was implemented. Resulting data indicated, as expected, that when both flow control devices were implemented, higher C L and lower C D values appeared.

Keywords: flow control; wind turbine; aerodynamics; Gurney flap; vortex generators (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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