The Effect of L Tip Vane on the Power and Load of 5MW Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine

Abstract

Taking the NREL 5MW horizontal axis wind turbine as the research object, numerical simulations were performed on the prototype, installed L tip vane wind turbines and extended-blade wind turbines. Comparing with the power of prototype, it can be seen that installing the L tip vane can improve the output of wind turbine. When the wind speed is in the range of 9 m s−1to 19 m s−1, the effect is obvious. Comparing the surface pressure of the extended-blade, it can be found that installed L tip vane can increase the pressure difference between the upper and lower surfaces of the blade tip, especially the suction surface and the leading edge of the blade tip. With the increase of wind speed, L tip vane impact on the vortex core strength of the wind turbine increases first and then decreases. When the wind speed is in the range of 11.4m s−1to 19m s-1, the L tip vane has a greater influence on the tip vortex strength of the wind turbine. Compared with the extended tip blade, adding L tip vane at the tip of the blade can effectively control the thrust of the wind turbine and the flapping moment at the root of the blade while improving the output of the wind turbine, and reduce the wind turbine load.