Wind Turbine Stall-Induced Aeroelastic Instability Mitigation Using Vortex Generators

Abstract

Inspired by Vortex Generators' success in delaying airfoil stall, this study explores the potential of using Vortex Generators to mitigate stall-induced instability in floating offshore wind turbines at parked and skewed inflow conditions for the first time. Significant improvements are achieved by strategically installing Vortex Generators in the outboard sections of turbine blades and optimizing their parameters (normalized height, length, inflow angle, and chordwise positions) using the particle swarm optimization algorithm and fast optimization method. Numerical results, including both linear and nonlinear stall instability analyses, consistently demonstrate that Vortex Generator arrays effectively mitigate stall-induced instability in the edgewise motion of wind turbines. The yaw misalignment angle range corresponding to the occurrence of edgewise instability is reduced by 29.69% (for NREL 5 MW wind turbine) and 22.95% (for IEA 15 MW wind turbine) while also decreasing limit cycle oscillation amplitudes. Additionally, azimuth angle does not influence optimization results, and implementing Vortex Generators can increase the onset wind speed of stall-induced instability without negatively affecting operating conditions.