Modeling of wind turbine vortex generators in considering the inter-effects between arrays

Abstract

Vortex generators (VGs) are commonly placed on wind turbine blades to delay flow separation in the boundary layer. VGs can be parametrically modeled in computational fluid dynamics for effective and efficient simulations of wind blade flow fields. Many researchers have studied the vortex circulation created by VGs and created various parametric models used with the Navier-Stokes equations, but most of them are based on a single winglet of VGs and do not include the inter-effects between the winglets. This paper proposes a parameterized VG array model based on counter-rotating VGs, which properly takes into account the inter-effects between winglets. Two cases, i.e., a plate with a pair of VGs and a DU-W2–250 blade segment with five pairs of VGs, are investigated to validate this model; the array type parametric model is in closer agreement with experimental data than traditional models. Compared to the solid VG model, the array type model has similar streamlines and surface pressure coefficients on the suction surface. The array type VG model can effectively reduce the number of grid points and yield highly accurate predictions of wind turbine blade aerodynamic characteristics.