Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Blade-Tip Rotors on Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines

A study is conducted on the effects of tip-mounted rotors on a conventional Darrieus H-VAWT; this study is complementary to the X-rotor concept proposal. This proposal features a novel offshore wind turbine concept that utilises blade-mounted tip rotors to extract energy from the flow. Following a literature study phase, an experimental campaign...

Sensing, actuation, and control of the smartx prototype morphing wing in the wind tunnel

This paper presents a study on trailing edge deflection estimation for the SmartX camber morphing wing demonstrator. This demonstrator integrates the technologies of smart sensing, smart actuation and smart controls using a six module distributed morphing concept. The morphing sequence is brought about by two actuators present at both ends of...

Proof of concept study for fuselage boundary layer ingesting propulsion

Key results from the EU H2020 project CENTRELINE are presented. The research activities undertaken to demonstrate the proof of concept (technology readiness level-TRL 3) for the so-called propulsive fuselage concept (PFC) for fuselage wake-filling propulsion integration are discussed. The technology application case in the wide-body market...

Bridging PIV spatial and temporal resolution using governing equations and development of the coaxial volumetric velocimeter

A series of techniques is proposed for volumetric air flow measurements that are based upon the principles of particle image velocimetry (PIV). The proposed techniques fall in two categories; part 1 of this dissertation considers measurement data processing using constitutive laws and part 2 focuses on development of a coaxial volumetric flow...

Model identification of a flapping wing micro aerial vehicle

Different flapping wing micro aerial vehicles (FWMAV) have been developed for academic (Harvard’s RoboBee), military (Israel Aerospace Industries’ Butterfly) and technology demonstration (Aerovironment’s NanoHummingBird) purposes. Among these, theDelFly II is recognized as one of themost successful configurations of FWMAV, with a broad flight...

Design and Construction of an Open-circuit Wind Tunnel with Specific Measurement Equipment for Cycling

In order to overcome resistance a cyclist has to deliver a total power output of which 90% is necessary to overcome the aerodynamic drag [1,2]. In order to perform research in this aerodynamic drag a wind tunnel has been built by the Belgium company Flanders' Bike Valley. This wind tunnel is designed using classical design rules and with...

Computational and experimental study on performance of sails of a yacht