Numerical simulations of the aerodynamic behavior of large horizontal-axis wind turbines

In the present work, the non-linear and unsteady aerodynamic behavior of large horizontal-axis wind turbines is analyzed. The flowfield around the wind turbine is simulated with the general non-linear unsteady vortex-lattice method, widely used in aerodynamics. By using this technique, it is possible to compute the aerodynamic loads and their evolution in the time domain. The results presented in this paper help to understand how the existence of the land–surface boundary layer and the presence of the turbine support tower, affect its aerodynamic efficiency. The capability to capture these phenomena is a novel aspect of the computational tool developed in the present effort.