Vijayakumar, Ganesh | Engineering Papers

DOE OSTI2024

Pressure-Gradient-Based RANS Model for Predicting Separation in Transitional and Turbulent Flows

Predicting flow separation poses a significant challenge for RANS models, particularly in transitional flows over airfoils. We propose a novel improvement to RANS models to predict incipient separation in both transitional and fully turbulent flows. Our approach modifies the eddy viscosity model in regions indicated by a pressure-gradient criterion that accounts for intermittency - determining whether the boundary layer is laminar or turbulent. This model demonstrates robust generalization across various airfoil shapes and Reynolds numbers. Applied to the NREL Phase VI wind turbine rotor, our model shows improved aerodynamic performance predictions compared to the baseline RANS model.

k-omega SST↗

DOE OSTI2024

Aerodynamic and production comparison of wind farms with downwind versus conventional upwind turbines

Ever-increasing turbine scales and their associated logistical challenges have reignited questions about the performance of downwind rotor configurations. A particular potential benefit of downwind rotor configurations is the farm-scale power increase that may be conferred by tilt-driven downward wake entrainment and associated wake recovery. In this work, a comprehensive aerodynamic analysis is carried out to understand the mechanisms for wake entrainment and recovery across a spectrum of velocity and inflow alignment conditions on a small, structured farm in order to understand the impact of downwind rotors on farm production. The results show that the benefits demonstrated previously in the literature for downwind-rotor farms in aligned flows are fragile, and, outside of strong farm/flow alignment conditions, power production benefits for small farms with downwind rotor configurations are significantly if not completely mitigated by misalignment effects. The work indicates that farm-scale benefits for downwind rotors must be realized either from large-scale entrainment benefits, with more exotic farm arrangements that can take advantage of the aerodynamic effects, or from beneficial fatigue impacts from entrainment of less turbulent outer boundary layer flows.

17 WIND ENERGY↗