Unified momentum model for rotor aerodynamics across operating regimes

Abstract

Abstract Despite substantial growth in wind energy technology in recent decades, aerodynamic modeling of wind turbines relies on momentum models derived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which are well-known to break down under flow regimes in which wind turbines often operate. This gap in theoretical modeling for rotors that are misaligned with the inflow and also for high-thrust rotors has resulted in the development of numerous empirical corrections which are widely applied in textbooks, research articles, and open-source and industry design codes. This work reports a Unified Momentum Model to efficiently predict power production, thrust force, and wake dynamics of rotors under arbitrary inflow angles and thrust coefficients without empirical corrections. The Unified Momentum Model is additionally coupled with a blade element model to enable blade element momentum modeling predictions of wind turbines in high thrust coefficient and yaw misaligned states without using corrections for these states. This Unified Momentum Model can form a new basis for wind turbine modeling, design, and control tools from first principles and may enable further development of innovations necessary for increased wind production and reliability to respond to 21st century climate change challenges.