Numerical Analysis of the Effects of Rotating Wind Turbine Blades on the Aerodynamic Forces Acting on Tower

Takaaki Kono, Satoshi Nebucho, Tetsuya Kogaki, Takahiro Kiwata, Shigeo Kimura and Nobuyoshi Komatsu
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Takaaki Kono: Institute of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
Satoshi Nebucho: Institute of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
Tetsuya Kogaki: National Instiute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Koriyama 963-0298, Japan
Takahiro Kiwata: Institute of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
Shigeo Kimura: Institute of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
Nobuyoshi Komatsu: Institute of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan

Energies, 2017, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-18

Abstract: We have investigated the effects of the rotating blades of an upwind-type three-blade horizontal-axis wind turbine (HAWT) on the basic characteristics of aerodynamic forces acting on its tower by conducting improved delayed detached-eddy simulations (DESs). Three tip-speed ratios were considered for the operating conditions of the HAWT: ? = 3 (low), ? = 6 (optimum), and ? = 10 (high). The diversion of the flow approaching the tower by the rotating blades and the low-pressure region that formed downwind of the blades significantly affected the aerodynamic forces acting on the tower. For example, the azimuth angle around the tower at which the pressure reached a maximum at each height shifted significantly in the direction of the movement of the blade passing the tower because of the diversion of the flow by the blades. Fluctuations in the lift force of the tower were significantly larger than those in its drag force because of the low-pressure region downwind of the blades.

Keywords: horizontal-axis wind turbine (HAWT); computational fluid dynamics (CFD); detached-eddy simulation (DES); tower; aerodynamic force; blade-tower interaction (BTI) (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: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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