Enhanced Aerodynamic Performance of a Wind Turbine Airfoil Section using Plasma Actuation

Abstract

The aerodynamic effects of a dual plasma actuator arrangement on a GOE 735, 23% thickness airfoil, modeled after a Renewegy VP-20 wind turbine blade cross section, were studied. Experiments demonstrating actuator thrust capabilities are compared to previous reports to better understand the relationship between actuator geometry and performance. Characterizations of the effects of plasma actuators for aerodynamic flow control on the resultant coefficient of lift and drag curves are discussed at Re = 1.50 x 10^5. Additionally, the dual plasma actuator arrangement was tested at various applied voltage amplitudes, ranging from 1-9kV_(rms) and frequencies ranging from 2-6kHz at Re = 1.50 x 10^4 to study the aerodynamic effects and the electrical costs of this type of flow control. The voltage and current waveforms were sampled during 10s measurements so that the power dissipated by the actuators could be calculated. Relationships between the thrust produced by the actuators, the voltage amplitude and frequency, the coefficient of lift just before stall, and the dissipated power are discussed. In addition the effects of multiple actuators, the coefficient of drag just before stall, and the phase offsets of the voltage and current signals are discussed.

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