Flow Control with Synthetic Jets on a Wind Turbine Airfoil

Abstract

View Video Presentation: https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2023-3526.vid Synthetic jets (SJs) have been successfully used as flow control devices in the aeronautical field, hence they have the potential to improve wind turbine performance by controlling boundary layer separation on airfoils. However, the extent of their impact on wind energy yield is not fully understood. In this paper, a numerical study that investigates the unsteady flow behavior over an airfoil designed for vertical-axis wind turbines subjected to a synthetic jet effect is presented. The SJ is modeled using two approaches: a simplified model with an oscillatory boundary condition imposed on the airfoil surface, and a more detailed model that includes geometrical features such as the cavity and the outlet. The differences in the flow interaction mechanisms that produce the delay in the boundary layer separation are discussed. Numerical results indicate that synthetic jets delay boundary layer separation, leading to a shift in the stall condition to higher angles of attack as the lift coefficient increases. This study sheds light on the potential of synthetic jets as a means of improving wind turbine performance as well as the effects of using different models to simulate the synthetic jet.