Numerical study of the coupling between the instantaneous blade loading/power of an axial wind turbine and upstream turbulence at high Reynolds numbers

Abstract

Abstract Little is known about how the range of scales in the approaching turbulent flow can interact dynamically with wind turbine and influence its ability to produce power. Here, a numerical study of a horizontal-axis wind turbine at different Reynolds numbers (corresponding to different tip speed ratios) has been conducted to investigate the instantaneous turbine response to upstream turbulence. A computational approach, combining large eddy simulation with actuator line modelling, is adopted. Comparison between Power Spectral Density (PSD) of the turbine thrust/power and PSD of the velocity at the rotor plane and one rotor diameter upstream of it confirms that there is a coupling between the instantaneous turbine thrust/power and the upstream turbulence ( 1 D upstream of the turbine) for frequencies below a critical frequency. Furthermore, it has been shown for the first time, that PSD of the turbine thrust/power and the velocity PSD at the rotor plane are very similar, indicating that the instantaneous turbine thrust/power and the velocity at the rotor plane are coupled for all frequencies. This means that the PSD of velocity at the rotor plane or shortly behind it can provide interesting information for the instantaneous turbine loads that are very important for the turbine operational life.