Blunt-Wavy Combined Trailing Edge for Wind Turbine Blade Inboard Performance Improvement

Abstract

Aerodynamic performance of wind turbine blade inboard is improved by modifying its trailing edge shape. A combined trailing edge modification design with blunt trailing edge and a span-wise wavy trailing edge is used. Designing blunt trailing edge at the blade inboard makes the flow become more attached than the conventional sharp trailing edge. The span-wise wavy trailing edge breaks up the Karman vortex shedding generated by the blunt trailing edge. The Sandia National Laboratory 100 meter blade, SNL100-03 was used as a baseline model. Rotating blade simulations are performed with the full-scale isolated rotor condition. Aerodynamic performance analysis and aeroacoustic performance analysis of the modified turbine blades are performed. By using the blunt-wavy combined trailing edge modification, the massive flow separation at the inboard of the baseline blade is prevented successfully. Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation (DDES) with a modified laminar-turbulent transition model (Medida - Baeder model) is used for better prediction of flow separation.