Abstract

The Blade Element Momentum (BEM) equations are widely used for analyzing the wind turbine aerodynamics and for turbine blade design. Compared to the classical approach to the solution of BEM equations which is relatively complex and can sometime lead to non-convergent solution, recently Andrew Ning has described a simpler solution method that reduces the solution to the BEM equations to a one-dimensional root-finding algorithm. In the Ning’s approach, the Blade Element Momentum equations are determined for a blade inflow angle instead of the axial and tangential induction factors used in the classical BEM method. This approach simplifies the solution method and also leads to guaranteed convergence. In this thesis, the solution from new approach is compared to the numerical solution from the classical method by comparing the results with the experimental data for the NREL Phase II and Phase III, and Risoe horizontal axis wind turbines.

In the BEM formulation, tip-loss correction factor influences the accuracy of the solution. The traditional tip-loss correction factor used is due to Prandtl and Glauert which is not always consistent with the physical behavior of the flow field near the tip. This research formulates a new more physically correct analytical expression for the tip losses and the results are compared with those obtained using the Prandtl-Glauert tip loss correction.

Committee Chair

Ramesh Agarwal

Committee Members

Swami Karunamoorthy Qiulin Qu

Comments

Permanent URL: https://doi.org/10.7936/K78G8J1N

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Author's Department

Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science

Author's School

McKelvey School of Engineering

Document Type

Thesis

Date of Award

Summer 8-19-2016

Language

English (en)

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Available for download on Sunday, January 10, 2044

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