A Parametric CFD Study of Morphing Trailing Edge Flaps Applied on a 10 MW Offshore Wind Turbine

Abstract

The present study investigates the influence of three-dimensional aerodynamic effects on a wind turbine rotor blade with trailing edge flap by means of CFD. Different flap extensions in chord and radial direction have been analyzed on the DTU 10 MW rotor blade with a flap centered at 75% radius and for steady deflection angles of +/-10̊. The comparison to 2D airfoil simulations at mid flap position shows that vortices which develop at the flap edges have a significant influence on the aerodynamic characteristics. They reduce the lift increase or decrease caused by the flap deployment and thus the flap effectiveness. Reductions up to 35% lift variation have been found in the the present study which confirms the necessity to consider these 3D effects in the flap design process.