Detached eddy simulation of a horizontal-axis wind turbine with a new type vortex generators

The main aim of this project is to investigate the aerodynamic efficiency (power coefficient) of a wind turbine that uses small delta wings placed close to the turbine blade surface as vortex generators. For large pitch-regulated wind turbines reduced aerodynamic performance of the rotor blades close to their roots due to working conditions limitation can be observed. Blade surface roughness and leading edge erosion that may cause the local boundary layer separation and lead to blade global aerodynamic characteristics reduction can also entail difficulties. Conventional vortex generators have the shape of small blades arranged in a specified way on the wind turbine rotor blades surface. Their purpose is to improve the aerodynamic performance of the rotor (increase lift force and rotor power) by reducing the separated boundary layer zone. The approximate shape of the vortex generators and their location on the blades is shown in the attached figures. This study is organized in the following way: 1. Research based on existing experimental records in order to obtain the data for comparison (this research also includes sensitivity analysis for the mesh distribution ) 2. Numerical evaluations for designed (new shape) vortex generators. Optimal shape of the generators and their optimized arrangement along the blade should be the outcomes of this study as this provides guidelines for the wind turbines designers. Moreover, the use of the DES turbulence model allows to achieve good flow field visualization around the turbine blades and the vortex generators.