Introduction to Wind Turbine Aerodynamics Theory

Short Course on Wind Energy
- Introduction to Wind Turbine

Aerodynamics -
POLItecnico
di MIlano
Carlo L. Bottasso
Politecnico di Milano
November 2011
Introduction to Wind Turbine Aerodynamics
Outline
One-Dimensional annular stream tube theory with wake swirl
(A. Betz 1919, H. Glauert 1926, 1935)
Blade element momentum theory

Optimum design conditions
Examples:
- Optimum blade for constant efficiency

- Optimum blade for constant chord
Recapitulation and conclusions
POLITECNICO di MILANO
POLI-Wind Research Lab
1D Annular Stream Tube Theory
Hypotheses:
Stationary flow
a = axial
induction factor
Constant mass flow rate along stream tube (no interaction among annuli and
no mixing at stream tube boundary)
Incompressible and inviscid flow
Actuator disk (infinite number of blades)
Axial thrust:
Bernoullis Th.:
Thrust:

Assuming uniform inflow across rotor disk:
Thrust:
Glauert empirical
relation
Betz limit
Power:
Turbulent
wake state
1D Annular Stream Tube Theory with

Wake Swirl
a=angular
induction factor
Bernoullis Th.:
Pressure jump across rotor:

Thrust:

Wake Swirl
Rotor plane
Tangential force (rate of change of tangential momentum):
Torque:
Power:

Wake Swirl
Integrating over the rotor disk:
where
Local speed
ratio
Tip speed
ratio (TSR)
Power coefficient:
Variable speed wind turbine:

maximize for best possible CP
given a design
Optimum Blade Design

Optimum design condition:
Thrust from
axial flow
Thrust from
swirl flow
Solve to get
then set optimality condition
Optimal solution:
Betz limit
Glauert Initial Hypothesis: swirl

sustained by flow kinetic energy
(would require specific discussion)
Blade Element Momentum Theory

Blade section: consider velocity components from momentum theory
Rotor plane
Speed resultant
Inflow angle

Blade section: consider aerodynamic force components
Rotor plane
B = number
of blades

Combining the expressions from momentum theory and at the blade
element (dropping drag for simplicity but see also Wilson &
Lissaman 1974):
and, upon simplification, we have the optimal local loading:
Chord solidity
Optimal Blade Design

From the velocity triangle
using the optimality conditions for maximum C P we find:
Hence the optimal inflow and twist angles are

Optimal design conditions:
Possible strategies:
A) Assume constant CL (and hence ), e.g. for maximum efficiency
E=CL/CD, and compute optimal chord from (1) and twist from (2)
B) Assume constant chord, and compute CL from (1), then its
corresponding , and finally twist from (2)

Remark:
Since optimal inductions are only functions of inflow angle
power P and thrust T will be the same for strategies A and B when the
two rotors have the same solidity

Example:
Design TSR = 5
Airfoil NACA4412: CL=0.0981 deg+0.4033 CL max E=0.8
Optimal (max E) chord
span-wise distribution
Constant chord blade

of same solidity
Small diameter wind turbine

Optimal span-wise twist
distributions
Blade with optimal (max E)

chord span-wise distribution
Constant
chord blade
Swirl effects are predominant

at blade root
Induction factors (same

for both designs)

Remark:
Apparently the two blades have the same performance (same a and a,
hence same CP), but consider CL span-wise distribution:
Constant chord
blade
Blade with optimal (max E)
chord distribution
What will happen approaching stall?

Using the previous relationships, one can compute power and thrust
at a generic TSR and blade pitch:
1
0.5
0.9
0.8
0.4
0.7
0.6
CT
0.3
CP
Performance Off Design Point
0.5
0.4
0.2
Increasing pitch
Increasing pitch
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.1
0
2
6
TSR
0
2
TSR
Weibull
distribution
0.5
Pr
0.4
0.3
CP
0.2
0.1
0
2
TSR
Vr
Vcut in
Region I
Variable Speed Regulation
Region II - constant
TSR strategy
V
Vcut out
Region III - constant

power strategy
Annual energy yield:

Recapitulation
Main points to be remembered:
1) Maximize CP to optimize performance in a variable speed wind
turbine
2) CP computed in terms of induction factors (a=axial flow, a=swirling

flow) using 1D momentum theory
3) Blade element conditions link to blade geometry (chord and twist)
4) Optimized blade will be twisted and possibly tapered
What we have not touched:
- Effects of drag and viscosity
- Discrete number of blades (Prandtls tip loss approximation)
- Choice of rotor radius (AEP, tip speed)
Further Reading
Comprehensive treatment of this material:
T. Burton, D. Sharpe, N. Jenkins, E. Bossanyi, Wind Energy

Handbook, John Wiley and Sons, Chichester, England, 2001
If you are interested in historical references:
H. Glauerts, Windmills and Fans, Aerodynamic Theory (W.F.
Durand, Ed.), Springer, Berlin, Germany, 1935
Homework Assignment
- Write a computer program (MATLAB, Excel, ) according to these
notes
- Choose a design TSR
- Compute the optimal solution with span-wise varying chord (max E)
- Compute performance off the design TSR
- Can you find an approximation which is easier/less expensive to
manufacture (e.g. linear taper, linear twist)? Quantify the performance
loss wrt the optimal solution

Introduction to Wind Turbine Aerodynamics Theory

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Short Course on Wind Energy

- Introduction to Wind Turbine

Introduction to Wind Turbine Aerodynamics

Blade element momentum theory

- Optimum blade for constant efficiency

POLI-Wind Research Lab

Introduction to Wind Turbine Aerodynamics

1D Annular Stream Tube Theory

POLI-Wind Research Lab

Introduction to Wind Turbine Aerodynamics

1D Annular Stream Tube Theory

POLI-Wind Research Lab

Introduction to Wind Turbine Aerodynamics

1D Annular Stream Tube Theory

POLI-Wind Research Lab

Introduction to Wind Turbine Aerodynamics

1D Annular Stream Tube Theory with

Pressure jump across rotor:

POLI-Wind Research Lab

Introduction to Wind Turbine Aerodynamics

1D Annular Stream Tube Theory with

Tangential force (rate of change of tangential momentum):

POLI-Wind Research Lab

Introduction to Wind Turbine Aerodynamics

1D Annular Stream Tube Theory with

Variable speed wind turbine:

POLI-Wind Research Lab

Introduction to Wind Turbine Aerodynamics

Optimum Blade Design

Glauert Initial Hypothesis: swirl

POLI-Wind Research Lab

Introduction to Wind Turbine Aerodynamics

Blade Element Momentum Theory

POLI-Wind Research Lab

Introduction to Wind Turbine Aerodynamics

Blade Element Momentum Theory

POLI-Wind Research Lab

Introduction to Wind Turbine Aerodynamics

Blade Element Momentum Theory

and, upon simplification, we have the optimal local loading:

POLI-Wind Research Lab

Introduction to Wind Turbine Aerodynamics

Optimal Blade Design

using the optimality conditions for maximum C P we find:

Hence the optimal inflow and twist angles are

POLI-Wind Research Lab

Introduction to Wind Turbine Aerodynamics

Optimal Blade Design

POLI-Wind Research Lab

Introduction to Wind Turbine Aerodynamics

Optimal Blade Design

POLI-Wind Research Lab

Introduction to Wind Turbine Aerodynamics

Optimal Blade Design

Constant chord blade

Small diameter wind turbine

POLI-Wind Research Lab

Introduction to Wind Turbine Aerodynamics

Optimal Blade Design

Blade with optimal (max E)

Swirl effects are predominant

Induction factors (same