Print Email Facebook Twitter Experimental parameter study for passive vortex generators on a 30% thick airfoil Title Experimental parameter study for passive vortex generators on a 30% thick airfoil Author Baldacchino, D. (TU Delft Wind Energy) Ferreira, Carlos (TU Delft Wind Energy) De Tavernier, D. (TU Delft Wind Energy) Timmer, W.A. (TU Delft Wind Energy) van Bussel, G.J.W. (TU Delft Wind Energy) Date 2018 Abstract Passive vane-type vortex generators (VGs) are commonly used on wind turbine blades to mitigate the effects of flow separation. However, significant uncertainty surrounds VG design guidelines. Understanding the influence of VG parameters on airfoil performance requires a systematic approach targeting wind energy-specific airfoils. Thus, the 30%-thick DU97-W-300 airfoil was equipped with numerous VG designs, and its performance was evaluated in the Delft University Low Turbulence Wind Tunnel at a chord-based Reynolds number of 2×106. Oil-flow visualizations confirmed the suppression of separation as a result of the vortex-induced mixing. Further investigation of the oil streaks demonstrated a method to determine the vortex strength. The airfoil performance sensitivity to 41 different VG designs was explored by analysing model and wake pressures. The chordwise positioning, array configuration, and vane height were of prime importance. The sensitivity to vane length, inclination angle, vane shape, and array packing density proved secondary. The VGs were also able to delay stall with simulated airfoil surface roughness. The use of the VG mounting strip was detrimental to the airfoil's performance, highlighting the aerodynamic cost of the commonly used mounting technique. Time-averaged pressure distributions and the lift standard deviation revealed that the presence of VGs increases load fluctuations in the stalling regime, compared with the uncontrolled case. Subject DU97W300Parametric studyPassive flow controlSeparation delayVane typeVortex generators To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:de9988cc-c814-4006-a14a-a775ca203010 DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/we.2191 ISSN 1095-4244 Source Wind Energy, 21 (9), 745-765 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2018 D. Baldacchino, Carlos Ferreira, D. De Tavernier, W.A. Timmer, G.J.W. van Bussel Files PDF Baldacchino_et_al_2018_Wi ... Energy.pdf 6.58 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:de9988cc-c814-4006-a14a-a775ca203010/datastream/OBJ/view