Colloquia

Summary

Vortex Generators (VGs) are often on wind turbine blades to enhance aerodynamic performance, particularly near the blade’s root. VGs create vortices that energise the boundary layer, delaying flow separation and increasing lift. VG effectiveness is strongly influenced by VG height, which determines the vortices’ strength and the extent of mixing in the boundary layer. This research focuses on Suzlon’s VG design compared to conventional VGs with varying height ratios. An efficient CFD framework is developed to simulate and assess various VG heights and designs in terms of their aerodynamic performance and effect on the boundary layer. The findings aim to inform Suzlon about the effectiveness of their current VG layout and potential design improvements.

Additionally, this study explores the jBAY model as a computationally cheaper alternative to full VG simulations. The jBAY model replaces the physical VG with a source-term approach, requiring a coarser computational mesh. Results compare aerodynamic accuracy and vortex prediction, as well as computational efficiency, to determine its feasibility for future VG research at Suzlon.