Fluid-structure interaction analysis of NREL phase VI wind turbine: Aerodynamic force evaluation and structural analysis using FSI analysis

Abstract

The fluid-structure interaction (FSI) analyses were performed to obtain the structural responses of 3D wind turbine research on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Phase VI wind turbine using the commercial program ANSYS. The surface pressure information was imported from the results of computation fluid dynamics (CFD) which were studied in advance. To perform the structural analyses for both of FSI and blade element momentum (BEM) method, the structural model of full NREL Phase VI wind turbine were developed which is assembled by a rotor, nacelle, tower and blades. The aerodynamic forces also can be calculated from structural model by the value of reaction on rotor shaft. From those new aerodynamic evaluating process, the accuracy of FSI process which utilizing CFD results were described. And the advantages and characteristics of combination of CFD/FSI which were demonstrated by investigating the structural response of NREL Phase VI turbine for 7 wind speed cases. From the studies of structural analysis, the wind turbine can be said that it is not governed by torque force, which is the main interest in power efficiency of wind turbine, but the thrust force. Finally, the practical applicability of this methodology is discussed.