Rapid distortion of turbulence into an open turbine rotor

Abstract

Rapid distortion of turbulence (RDT) theory is applied to homogeneous, isotropic turbulence incident on a horizontal axis turbine rotor such as a wind turbine or tidal-stream turbine. The mean flow field of the rotor which distorts the turbulence is represented by the commonly used axisymmetric actuator disc model due to Betz and Joukowski. The fluctuating streamwise component of the turbulence distorted by this field is calculated at the actuator disc plane. Turbulence velocity intensities and spectra are evaluated for general ratios of turbulence integral length scale to the rotor diameter, including the small-scale limit for which the original homogeneous strain analysis of Batchelor and Proudman may be applied. The distortion of the mean velocity profile of an incident rotor wake which may be considered a zero frequency disturbance relevant to wind and tidal turbine operation in large arrays is also analysed by the same method, treating it as a deterministic disturbance in the incident flow.