Control of a boundary layer over a wind turbine blade using distributed passive roughness

ÖZKAN M., ERKAN O.

Renewable Energy, vol.184, pp.421-429, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 184
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.renene.2021.11.082
  • Journal Name: Renewable Energy
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, PASCAL, Aerospace Database, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), CAB Abstracts, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, Environment Index, Geobase, Greenfile, Index Islamicus, INSPEC, Pollution Abstracts, Public Affairs Index, Veterinary Science Database, DIALNET, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.421-429
  • Keywords: Drag reduction, Passive flow control, Surface roughness, Wind turbines
  • Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

© 2021 Elsevier LtdWind turbines are mostly prone to reduced aerodynamic performance due to the inevitable occurrence of the roughness on blades. However, it may be possible to control the boundary layer by means of the right sort of roughness. In this study, distributed passive roughness is applied to the surface of NACA 63–415 airfoil. The influence of the roughness on the aerodynamic performance is numerically investigated by means of the TSST turbulence model for 103 ≤ Re ≤ 3 × 106 and for the angle of attack α = 6°. Results show that the effect of roughness on the airfoil performance is negligible for Re ≤ 104. However, for 5 × 104 ≤ Re ≤ 1.5 × 105, the surface roughness can significantly improve the aerodynamic performance. Furthermore, for Re = 2.5 × 105, the roughness still has a favourable effect until the roughness height of h = 0.1 mm. Moreover, it is observed that for 2.5 × 105 < Re ≤ 3 × 106, the lift to drag ratio is decreased by the application of roughness. Consequently, this study reveals that the implementation of the right sort of roughness can enhance the aerodynamic performance of the investigated wind turbine blade profile for some particular flow conditions.