A multi-disciplinary design optimization framework with integrated structural transformation for highly loaded radial turbines

The use of CFD-based optimizations is becoming a standard for turbomachinery design. Although the use of such optimizations can lead to great improvements of the machine performances, there are still several shortcomings in the common design procedure of turbomachines. In fact, this entails the optimization of the component shape, and only a...

CFD Simulation of a Floating Wind Turbine with OpenFOAM: an FSI approach based on the actuator line and relaxation zone methods

Floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) have the potential to harness wind resources in deepwater, which is so far prohibitive for conventional approaches. This, however, comes at a cost: the platform’s extra degrees of freedom (DoFs) introduce complex aerodynamic and hydrodynamic behaviours. Therefore, FOWTs must be accurately modeled to reduce...

Towards the CSM-CFD modelling of membrane wings at high Reynolds numbers

The field of Airborne Wind Energy is concerned with harvesting high-altitude wind power; the corresponding group in Delft, in particular, is investigating the suitability of a kite for this purpose. Due to the high complexity that such a system ensues, it is of interest to have a fundamental understanding of the critical aero-elastic modes of...

fastFoam - An aero-servo-elastic wind turbine simulation method based on CFD

The current wind turbine design tools are based on aerodynamic simulations using blade element momentum (BEM) codes to calculate loads and power, see for instance the tools HAWC2, Bladed or FAST. This engineering method is computationally efficient, but theoretically valid only for steady two dimensional flow in non-yawed conditions. <br/><br/...