Fluid–Structure Interaction Simulations of a Wind Gust Impacting on the Blades of a Large Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine

Gilberto Santo, Mathijs Peeters, Wim Van Paepegem and Joris Degroote
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Gilberto Santo: Department of Electromechanical, Systems and Metal Engineering, Ghent University, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Mathijs Peeters: Department of Materials, Textiles and Chemical Engineering, Ghent University, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 907, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium
Wim Van Paepegem: Department of Materials, Textiles and Chemical Engineering, Ghent University, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 907, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium
Joris Degroote: Department of Electromechanical, Systems and Metal Engineering, Ghent University, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41, 9000 Ghent, Belgium

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 3, 1-20

Abstract: The effect of a wind gust impacting on the blades of a large horizontal-axis wind turbine is analyzed by means of high-fidelity fluid–structure interaction (FSI) simulations. The employed FSI model consisted of a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model reproducing the velocity stratification of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) and a computational structural mechanics (CSM) model loyally reproducing the composite materials of each blade. Two different gust shapes were simulated, and for each of them, two different amplitudes were analyzed. The gusts were chosen to impact the blade when it pointed upwards and was attacked by the highest wind velocity due to the presence of the ABL. The loads and the performance of the impacted blade were studied in detail, analyzing the effect of the different gust shapes and intensities. Also, the deflections of the blade were evaluated and followed during the blade’s rotation. The flow patterns over the blade were monitored in order to assess the occurrence and impact of flow separation over the monitored quantities.

Keywords: fluid–structure interaction; wind turbine; atmospheric boundary layer; composite materials; gusts; wind energy (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 (7)

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