Validation of the Actuator Line Model for Simulating Flows past Yawed Wind Turbine Rotors

The Actuator Line/Navier-Stokes model is validated against wind tunnel measurements for flows past the yawed MEXICO rotor and past the yawed NREL Phase VI rotor. The MEXICO rotor is operated at a rotational speed of 424 rpm, a pitch angle of −2.3˚, wind speeds of 10, 15, 24 m/s and yaw angles of 15˚, 30˚ and 45˚.

The computed loads as well as the velocity field behind the yawed MEXICO rotor are compared to the detailed pressure and PIV measurements which were carried out in the EU funded MEXICO project. For the NREL Phase VI rotor, computations were carried out at a rotational speed of 90.2 rpm, a pitch angle of 3˚, a wind speed of 5 m/s and yaw angles of 10˚ and 30˚.

The computed loads are compared to the loads measured from pressure measurement.