DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/ijred.4.3.205-210

Wind Turbine Rotor Simulation via CFD Based Actuator Disc Technique Compared to Detailed Measurement

1Department of Mechanical Engineering of Biosystems, University of Shahrood, Shahrood, Iran, Islamic Republic of

2Department of Mechanical Engineering of Biosystems, University of Tehran, Alborz, Iran, Islamic Republic of

Published: 15 Oct 2015.
Editor(s): H Hadiyanto

Citation Format:
Abstract

In this paper, a generalized Actuator Disc (AD) is used to model the wind turbine rotor of the MEXICO experiment, a collaborative European wind turbine project. The AD model as a combination of CFD technique and User Defined Functions codes (UDF), so-called UDF/AD model is used to simulate loads and performance of the rotor in three different wind speed tests. Distributed force on the blade, thrust and power production of the rotor as important designing parameters of wind turbine rotors are focused to model. A developed Blade Element Momentum (BEM) theory as a code based numerical technique as well as a full rotor simulation both from the literature are included into the results to compare and discuss. The output of all techniques is compared to detailed measurements for validation, which led us to final conclusions.

Fulltext View|Download
Keywords: Wind Turbine, Rotor Performance, Actuator Disc Theory, BEM Theory, Full Rotor Simulation

Article Metrics:

Article Info
Section: Original Research Article
Language : EN
Recent articles
CFD Simulation and Optimization of Very Low Head Axial Flow Turbine Runner Predictive Factors Associated with Solar Energy Development in Laikipia District Central Kenya Wind Turbine Rotor Simulation via CFD Based Actuator Disc Technique Compared to Detailed Measurement More recent articles
Most cited articles
MPPT Schemes for PV System under Normal and Partial Shading Condition: A Review Corrosion of the metal parts of diesel engines in biodiesel-based fuels Incorporating Root Crops under Agro-Forestry as the Newly Potential Source of Food, Feed and Renewable Energy A Review of a Successful Unsubsidized Market-Based Rural Solar Development Initiative in Laikipia District, Central Kenya Effect of Temperature on Plasma-Assisted Catalytic Cracking of Palm Oil into Biofuels More cited articles
  1. Conway, J.T. (1995) Analytical solutions for the actuator disc with variable radial distribution of load. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 297: 327-355
  2. Conway, J.T. (1998) Prediction of the performance of heavily loaded propellers with slipstream contraction. CASI J., 44: 169–174
  3. Fluent (2006) Theory guide: Pressure-velocity coupling. ANSYS Documentations, ANSYS
  4. Froude, R.E. (1889) On the part played in propulsion by differences of fluid pressure. Trans. Inst. Naval Architects, 30: 390
  5. Hough, G. & Ordway, D. (1965) The generalized actuator disk. Developments in theoretical and applied mechanics, 2: 317-336
  6. Madsen, H.A. (1996) CFD analysis of the actuator disc flow compared with momentum results. 10th IEA Meeting on Aerodynamics. University of Edinburgh
  7. Mahmoodi, E., Jafari, A. & Keyhani, A. (2015) Near wake modeling of a wind turbine particle image velocimetry experiment Iranica Journal of Energy and Environment, 6(3), 195-206
  8. Mikkelsen, R. (2003) Actuator disc methods applied to wind turbines. PhD Thesis, Technical University of Denmark
  9. Rankine, W.J.M. (1865) On the mechanical principles of the action of propellers. Trans. Inst. Naval Architects, 6: 13-39
  10. Rethore, P.E., Sørensen, N.N. & Madsen, H.A. (2010) Modelling the mexico wind tunnel with cfd. IEA wind, MexNext meeting. Forth, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
  11. Sanderse, B., Van Der Pijl, S.P.V. & Koren, B. (2011) Review of CFD for wind-turbine wake aerodynamics. Wind Energy, 14 (7), 799–819
  12. Schepers, J.G. & Snel, H. (2008) Model experiments in controlled conditions
  13. Shen, W.Z., Zhu, W.J. & Sørensen, J.N. (2011) Actuator line/navier–stokes computations for the mexico rotor: Comparison with detailed measurements. Wind Energy, 15(5), 811-825
  14. Snel, H., Schepers, J.G. & Montgomerie, B. (2007) The mexico (model experiments in controlled conditions): The database and first results of data process and interpretation. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 75, 012014
  15. Sørensen, J.N. & Kock, C.W. (1995) A model for unsteady rotor aerodynamics. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 58: 259-275
  16. Sørensen, J.N. & Myken, A. (1992) Unsteady actuator disc model for horizontal axis wind turbines. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 39: 139-149
  17. Sørensen, J.N., Shen, W.Z. & Munduate, X. (1998) Analysis of wake states by a full-field actuator disc model. Wind Energy, 1 (2), 73-88
  18. Wu, T. (1962) Flow through a heavily loaded actuator disc. Schiffstechnik, 9 (47), 134-138

Last update:

  1. Wake modelling via actuator-line method for exergy analysis in openFOAM

    Mohsen Boojari, Esmail Mahmoodi, Ali Khanjari. International Journal of Green Energy, 16 (11), 2019. doi: 10.1080/15435075.2019.1641101

  2. Energy and exergy analyzing of a wind turbine in free stream and wind tunnel in CFD domain based on actuator disc technique

    Ali Khanjari, Esmail Mahmoodi, Mohammad Hossien Ahmadi. Renewable Energy, 160 , 2020. doi: 10.1016/j.renene.2020.05.183

  3. Numerical simulation of the Mexico wind turbine using the actuator disk model along with the 3D correction of aerodynamic coefficients in OpenFOAM

    Shayesteh Amini, Mahmood Reza Golzarian, Esmail Mahmoodi, Andres Jeromin, Mohammad Hossein Abbaspour-Fard. Renewable Energy, 163 , 2021. doi: 10.1016/j.renene.2020.10.120

Last update: 2025-07-03 11:51:46

  1. CFD and Experimental Studies on Wind Turbines in Complex Terrain by Improved Actuator Disk Method

    Liu X.. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 127 (1), 2017. doi: 10.1088/1742-6596/854/1/012028

  2. A new method for horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) blade optimization

    Mohammadi M.. International Journal of Renewable Energy Development, 5 (1), 2016. doi: 10.14710/ijred.5.1.1-8

  3. Wake modelling via actuator-line method for exergy analysis in openFOAM

    Mohsen Boojari, Esmail Mahmoodi, Ali Khanjari. International Journal of Green Energy, 16 (11), 2019. doi: 10.1080/15435075.2019.1641101

  4. Energy and exergy analyzing of a wind turbine in free stream and wind tunnel in CFD domain based on actuator disc technique

    Ali Khanjari, Esmail Mahmoodi, Mohammad Hossien Ahmadi. Renewable Energy, 160 , 2020. doi: 10.1016/j.renene.2020.05.183

  5. CFD simulation and lidar experimental study on wind turbines in complex terrain

    Liu X.. Taiyangneng Xuebao/Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica, 41 (3), 2020.

  6. Numerical simulation of the Mexico wind turbine using the actuator disk model along with the 3D correction of aerodynamic coefficients in OpenFOAM

    Shayesteh Amini, Mahmood Reza Golzarian, Esmail Mahmoodi, Andres Jeromin, Mohammad Hossein Abbaspour-Fard. Renewable Energy, 163 , 2021. doi: 10.1016/j.renene.2020.10.120