Experimental study of the impact of blade-tip mounted rotors on the X-Rotor vertical-axis wind turbine

Journal Article (2024)
Author(s)

David Bensason (TU Delft - Wind Energy)

A Sciacchitano (TU Delft - Aerodynamics)

C.J. Ferreira (TU Delft - Wind Energy)

Research Group
Wind Energy
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/2767/7/072016
More Info
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Publication Year
2024
Language
English
Research Group
Wind Energy
Issue number
7
Volume number
2767
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Abstract

The Horizon 2020 European Commission-funded project - X-ROTOR - proposes a radical rethink of the traditional vertical-axis wind turbine geometry. The X-Rotor vertical axis wind turbine relies on blade-tip mounted rotors, referred to as secondary rotors, for power generation and takeoff. This study examines the aerodynamic effects of secondary rotors on a scaled X-Rotor model's loading in an open-jet wind tunnel. Particle image velocimetry measurements are taken at two cross-stream planes within the volume of rotation of a scaled turbine model at two phase-locked positions. The measurements are compared with cases without secondary rotors present to understand the local impact of the blade-tip mounted devices on the wake and vortex strengths. The results indicate an accelerated turbulent diffusion of the trailing tip-vortex of the X-Rotor, and the subsequent local in-plane velocity gradients induced by the trailing tip-vortex are diminished. These insights and experimental database contribute to the development and validation of numerical models of the X-Rotor with blade-tip mounted rotors.