An Engineering Approach to Improve Performance Predictions for Wind Turbine Applications: Comparison with Full Navier-Stokes Model and Experimental Measurements

Accurate predictions of aerodynamic performance and near wake expansion around Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT) rotors is pivotal for studying wind turbine wake interactions and optimizing wind farm layouts. This study introduces a novel engineering model centered on stall delay correction to enhance the precision of the Actuator Disk Method (ADM) predictions in both aerodynamic performance and near wake expansion around HAWT rotors. The model is developed based on a comprehensive study of the 3D lift coefficient evolution over the rotor blade, incorporating a shift parameter that considers both stall angle detection and radial decrement. The proposed approach demonstrates remarkable agreements, showcasing discrepancies as low as 7% for both loads and axial wake predictions. These quantifiable results underscore the effectiveness of the model in capturing intricate aerodynamic phenomena. Looking forward, the success of this approach opens avenues for broader applications, guiding future research in wind energy towards improved simulation accuracy and optimized wind farm designs.