Estimation of blade loads for a variable pitch vertical axis wind turbine from particle image velocimetry

Bruce LeBlanc*, Carlos Ferreira

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)
107 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This paper presents the flow fields and aerodynamic loading of a two bladed H-type vertical axis wind turbine with active variable pitch for load and circulation control. Particle Image Velocimetry is used to capture flow fields at six azimuthal positions of the blades during operation, three upwind and three downwind. Flow phenomena such as dynamic stall and tower shadow are captured in the flow fields. The phase-averaged velocity fields and their time and spatial derivatives are used to calculate the normal and tangential loading at each position for each pitching configuration using the Noca formulation of the flux equations. The results show the effect of load shifting from the upwind to downwind region of the actuator using pitch and the effects of dynamic stall on the blades. The results also provide an unique database for model validation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)313-332
Number of pages20
JournalWind Energy
Volume25
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Keywords

  • active pitch control
  • circulation control
  • Darrieus VAWT
  • flow visualization
  • particle image velocimetry
  • vertical axis wind turbine

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