Study of the influence of vortex generators on aerodynamic profiles for wind turbines.

• Grant number: 11/09501-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2011
• End date: July 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Aerospace Engineering - Aerodynamics
• Principal Investigator: Hernán Darío Cerón-Muñoz
• Grantee: Antonio Carlos Daud Filho
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research project aims to study the influences of vortex generators in the aerodynamic characteristics of the profiles NACA 63-215, NACA 63-415, NACA 63-430, FFA-W3-211, FFA-W3-241, FFA-W3-301, S822 e S823 often used in blades of wind turbines. This project shall be conducted as follows: first the profiles will be submitted to Xfoil simulations in order to have a prior analysis of their aerodynamic characteristics such as lift, drag and moment curves, then airfoils will be constructed and the same characteristics must be measured through wind tunnel tests. Having the aerodynamic behavior of the profiles, the vortex generator will be designed, built and implemented. The sizing of these devices must be done according to bibliographic reference. Once the vortex generators are settled in the airfoils, they shall pass through tests in the wind tunnel, which will provide new data, that finally will be confronted with the previous data by means of comparative graphics. The possible differences will be analyzed, highlighting the influences of the vortex generators. The results might assist projects of wind turbines by producing references about the behavior of vortex generators in the airfoils studied.