Smart rotor

Abstract

Dynamic stall limits the operative life of rotors, due to a periodic occurrence of force and moment peaks that can lead to blade structural-failure. The aim of this study is to investigate the possibility of controlling cyclic forces on wind turbine blades by means of Trailing Edge Flaps. The periodic motion of a rotor blade is reproduced by a 2D wing pitching and plunging in a free-stream flow at 푹풆=ퟏ.ퟑ× ퟏퟎퟓ. The wing is equipped with 50 pressure taps able to provide with a time-resolved distribution of the pressure on the wing. A trailing-edge flap is installed in the wing and actuated with respect to the wing motion. Flap actuations in phase opposition to the rotor motion are found to maximize the lift integral over the period while minimizing the load fluctuations over time.