Wind Turbine Post-Stall Airfoil Performance Characteristics Guidelines for Blade-Element Momentum Methods

Abstract

The objective of this study was to provide post-stall airfoil data input guidelines for the prediction of peak and post-peak rotor power when using blade-element momentum theory. A steady-state data set from the Unsteady Aerodynamic Experiment (UAE) rotor test was used to provide guidelines for the development of a global post-stall method for the prediction of post-stall 3-D airfoil characteristics to be used with 2-D airfoil data. Based on these UAE data, methods to emulate the 3-D aerodynamics in the post-stall region were explored. Also suggested are experimental tests needed to better understand the 3-D flow physics and to quantify needed theory or empirical factors for a global post-stall approach to support blade-element momentum methods.