Numerical and Experimental Investigations on the Meshing Model Choice of a NACA2415 Airfoil Wind Turbine Placed in an Open Wind Tunnel

Abstract

IntroductionTo prepare a truly sustainable development, the community recommends increasing the share of renewable resources for electricity generation. The production of electricity by wind turbines is playing a major role. In this context, many scientists have examined the effects of wind turbines parameters design. For example, Hirahara et al.[1] developed a unique and very small wind turbine with a diameter of 500 mm and a small aspect ratio for wide use in urban space. The basic performance was tested for various free stream and load resistance. The airflow around the turbine was investigated using a particle image velocimetry (PIV). Wright and Wood [2] showed that the acceleration and deceleration of the rotor at speeds below its controlled maximum speed for a range of wind speeds were calculated and compared with data. Schreck and Robinson [3] showed that wind turbine blade aerodynamic phenomena can be broadly categorized according to the operating state of the machine, and two particular aerodynamic phenomena assume crucial importance. At zero and low rotor yaw angles, increasing rotation determines blade aerodynamic response. At moderate to high yaw angles, dynamic stall dominates blade aerodynamic. The main goal of the Mirzaei et al. [4] investigation was to understand the flow field structure of the separation bubble formed on NLF-0414 airfoil with glaze-ice accretions using CFD and hot-wire anemometry and comparing these results with previous researches performed on NACA 0012 airfoil. Hu et al. [5] showed that Coriolis and centrifugal forces play important roles in 3D stall-delay. At the root area of the blade, where the high angles of attack occur, the effect of the Coriolis and centrifugal forces is dominant. Thus, it shows apparent stall-delay phenomenon at the inner part of the blade. However, by increasing the Reynolds number, the separation position has a stronger effect than by increasing the Coriolis and centrifugal forces. Sicot et al.[6] investigated the aerodynamic properties of a wind turbine airfoil. AbstractIn this work, we are interested on the numerical and experimental investigations of a NACA2415 airfoil wind turbine placed in an open wind tunnel. The study of the meshing effect on the numerical results was developed using a commercial CFD code based on the resolution of the Navier-Stokes equations in conjunction with the standard k-ε turbulence model. These equations were solved by a finite volume discretization method. The developed numerical results are compared with experimental results to choose the adequate meshing.