Extension of an Aeroelastic Actuator Sector Model for wind turbine parametrization in a coupled Large Eddy Simulation framework
1 : Department of Mechanical Engineering [Leuven]
Wakes originating from upstream turbines in wind farms have detrimental effects on power production and structural lifespan of turbines in downstream rows. In recent years, Large-Eddy Simulations (LES) have proved to be a valuable tool for simulating large wind farms and developing dynamic wind turbine control strategies, such as induction control and yaw control, for overall increase in windfarm efficiency. To correctly model the physics behind complex wake interactions and capture the effect of these control strategies, accurate parameterization of wind turbine forces on the LES grid is essential. Additionally, two-way fluid structure interaction coupling is required to evaluate the effect of the control strategies on turbine structures. Computational time and cost are large limiting factors for accurate representation of wind turbine structural and flow dynamics. To make two-way coupled wind farm simulations for long time horizons computationally feasible, Vitsas and Meyers developed an Aeroelastic Actuator Sector Model (AASM) which includes a multibody dynamics module coupled with a pseudospectral large-eddy simulation solver, SP-Wind. However, in its current form the AASM does not have provisions to represent the effect of turbine tilt and precone. The model also lacks the capability of yawing the turbines, hence making simulations to test yaw control strategies impossible. This work aims to extend the AASM to include the capability of yawing, tilting and preconing a wind turbine rotor. The aeroelastic model is upgraded and the effect of incorporating yaw, tilt and precone angles is investigated by comparing turbine power and structural loading statistics against simulations without these geometric angles.