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Aeroacoustic simulations of a blunt trailing-edge wind turbine airfoil

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Abstract

We demonstrate the effectiveness of semi-empirical Brooks, Pope and Marcolini model and hybrid large eddy simulations in calculating the blunt trailing edge wind turbine noise at higher Reynolds number conditions. The 4 million element meshes of sharp and blunt trailing edge airfoils were tested at a Reynolds number of 3.2 million and an angle of attack of 4 degrees. The predicted airfoil self-noise by the modified semi-empirical formula with a low frequency directivity function and an additional term for large thickness ratio was compared to the experiments. The sound pressure level spectra from the hybrid large eddy simulation show that the predictions agree well with experimental measurements at the same observer location in the peak frequencies of the blunt trailing edge noise and sound pressure level rates of change at lower frequencies are also similar to experiments. The modified semi-empirical formula and the hybrid large eddy simulation can be considered as promising tools for high vorticity flow problems, especially for flatback airfoils for use on large wind turbines.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-742, Korea

    Taehyung Kim

  2. Institute of Advanced Aerospace Technology, Faculty of Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-742, Korea

    Soogab Lee

Authors
  1. Taehyung Kim
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  2. Soogab Lee
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Correspondence to Soogab Lee.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Cheolung Cheong

Taehyung Kim is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Seoul National University. He received his M.S. from the same department in 2008. His B.S. is from the Mechanical Engineering at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in 2003. His research interests include airfoil self-noise generated from wind turbine blades and tonal and broadband noise caused by various propellers.

Soogab Lee is a professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Seoul National University. He received his Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University in 1992. He worked as a research scientist at NASA Ames Research Center from 1992 to 1995. His research interests are in the area of aerodynamics and acoustics of rotating machines including wind turbine and helicopter systems.

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Kim, T., Lee, S. Aeroacoustic simulations of a blunt trailing-edge wind turbine airfoil. J Mech Sci Technol 28, 1241–1249 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-014-0114-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-014-0114-6

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