Helical vortices and wind turbine aerodynamics

Abstract

All rotating blades shed helical vortices which have a significant effect on the velocity over the blades and the forces acting on them. Nevertheless, knowledge of vortex behavior is not used in blade element theory (BET), the most common method to calculate the thrust produced by propellers and the power by wind turbines. Helical vortices of constant pitch and radius are also of fundamental interest as one of only three geometries that do not deform under their “self-induced” motion. This aspect of vortex theory is reviewed historically and the relationship with the forces acting on submerged bodies briefly reviewed. The development of helical vortex theory (HVT) in the 20th century is then described. It is shown that HVT allows BET to be used for a number of important problems that cannot be analyzed by current versions of the theory.