Inviscid analysis of horizontal axis wind turbines using distributed vorticity elements

The primary tool currently used for a wind turbine preliminary design is the blade element momentum method, which lacks a detailed wake model and relies on an assumption of non-interacting streamtubes. These simplifications limit the designer's ability to tailor the blade shape to minimize the induced power loss of the rotor. Improved prediction of the induced velocity distribution on the blades can be achieved through the use of vortex-based models at a computational cost low enough for use in design processes requiring many iterations. This paper presents the implementation of a potential flow, lifting-surface methodology using elements of distributed vorticity. The use of such elements provides several advantages including higher resolution than filament-based methods, simulation of non-planar blade planforms, and avoids the need for empirical corrections. Because the wake has a strong influence on the flow at the rotor, the accurate prediction of its geometry is highly important for wind turbine analysis. To this end, a force-free relaxed-wake model is presented as well as less numerically intensive fixed-wake and hybrid-wake models. Comparison is made to the blade element momentum method and Goldstein's theoretical solution for the ideal lightly loaded rotor.