Benchmarking different fidelities in wind turbine aerodynamics under yaw

Abstract

Abstract This paper analyses the aerodynamics of wind turbines under yaw with different modelling fidelities (BEM, BEM with skewed wake model, UVLM and LES-AL). First of all, models are compared in a zero-yaw case to demonstrate their accuracy in prediction of out-of-plane loads and the discrepancy of UVLM in the in-plane loads due to the lack of viscous drag. Secondly, the yaw aerodynamics are described through the advancing/retreating and skewed wake effects, which are appropriately captured by UVLM and LES-AL and lead to an incorrect prediction of the location of maximum and minimum loading along a revolution by BEM. Further, when a skew-wake model is included in BEM, it predicts the correct locations but exhibits overly large loading variations. These predictions are consistent for all yaw angles studied (γ = 10° − 30°). All solvers predict similar decrease of root-bending moments, rotor power and thrust coefficients up to a yaw angle of 10°. However, at larger yaw angles, BEM overpredicts this decrease of coefficients with the yaw angle due to the unsuccessful performance of yaw corrections as opposed to UVLM that inherently accounts for three-dimensional effects. This study demonstrates the need to use computational models that can account for three-dimensional effects in the computation of aerodynamic loads for yaw angles above 10°.