Simulations of NREL-5 MW reference wind turbine
Researchers from HPCWE project partner Universidade de São Paulo have conducted a number of simulations with the NREL-5 MW reference wind turbine. The following videos were produced to demonstrate and visualize the outcome of these simulations.
Vorticity Magnitute
This video shows the NREL-5MW reference wind turbine instantaneous isosurface for the vortex criterion Q colored by the vorticity magnitude in a three-dimensional perspective view in which it is possible to capture the wingtip vortices. The vorticity is trailed along the blades where the pressure resulting in lift force varies spanwise. Through the vorticity magnitude it is possible to obtain the primary component of the wake behaviour.
The simulation was performed by Marielle de Oliveira using OpenFOAM; (c) Universidade de São Paulo.
Wind Turbine Wake Formation
This video shows the beginning of the formation of the wake, where the wind speed decreases due to the extraction of energy by the wind turbine. This simulation, performed with OpenFOAM, is also able to calculate the thrust forces and aerodynamic power generation of the blades, supporting the development and numerical testing of the blades of large wind turbines.
Simulation by Rodolfo C. Puraca (c) Universidade de São Paulo.
LES of the wake of the NREL-5MW reference wind turbine
This is a Computational Fluid Mechanics simulation (LES) of the wake of an NREL 5MW wind turbine subjected to uniform wind and low incoming turbulence using the software WInc3D.
Created by Lucas Franceschini, (c) Universidade de São Paulo
Axial Velocity of NREL-5MW reference wind turbine
This video shows the NREL-5MW reference wind turbine axial velocity contour in the xy plane, which represents a view from the sky towards the ground, where it is possible to see the wind speed decreasing behind the blades due to the wind turbine energy extraction. Through the velocity field this simulation computes the pressure distribution along the blades and its aerodynamic forces allowing to estimate the wind turbine power generation.
The simulation was carried out using OpenFOAM by Marielle de Oliveira, (c) Universidade de São Paulo