3D Navier-Stokes Simulations of a rotor designed for Maximum Aerodynamic Efficiency

The present paper describes the design of a three-bladed wind turbine rotor taking into account maximum aerodynamic efficiency only and not considering structural as well as offdesign issues. The rotor was designed assuming constant induction for most of the blade span, but near the tip region a constant load was assumed. The rotor design was obtained using an Actuator Disc model and was subsequently verified using both a free wake Lifting Line method and a full 3D Navier-Stokes solver. Excellent agreement was obtained using the three models. Global mechanical power coefficient, CP, reached a value of slightly above 0.51, while global thrust coefficient, CT, was 0.87. The local power coefficient, Cp, increased to slightly above the Betz limit on the inner part of the rotor as well as the local thrust coefficient, Ct, increased to a value above 1.1. This agrees well with the theory of de Vries which states that including the effect of the low pressure behind the centre of the rotor stemming from the increased rotation both Cp and Ct will increase towards the root. Towards the tip both Cp and Ct decrease due to tip corrections as well as drag.