Design of a gust generator and comparison of model wind turbine and porous disc wake flows in a transverse gust

Abstract

This paper outlines the similarities and differences between the wake characteristics of a porous disc and model wind turbine under transverse gust loading which is generated via a two-vane wind tunnel gust generator. Phase-locked two-dimensional two-component (2D2C) particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements show that the capability of a porous disc in representing a wind turbine increases under gust loading. Compared to the uniform inflow case, normalized streamwise velocity plots of the porous disc and model turbine are in a better agreement under gusty inflow condition particularly in the near wake region. Comparison of the wake centerlines reveals a similar wavy wake pattern with no significant phase lag suggesting that the gust dynamics is the dominant factor in the determination of the wake dynamics.