The DAN-AERO MW Experiments

Abstract

The paper describes the DAN-AERO MW experiments carried out within a collaborative, three years research project between Riso DTU and the industrial partners LM Glasfiber, Siemens Wind Power, Vestas Wind Systems and finally the utility company DONG Energy. The main objective of the project is to establish an experimental data base which can provide new insight into a number of fundamental aerodynamic and aeroacoustic issues, important for the design and operation of MW size turbines. The most important issue is the difference between airfoil characteristics measured under 2D, steady conditions in a wind tunnel and the unsteady 3D flow conditions on a rotor. The different transition characteristics might explain some of the difference between the 2D and 3D airfoil data and the experiments have been set up to provide data on this subject. The overall experimental approach has been to carry out a number of coordinated, innovative measurements on full scale MW size rotors as well as on airfoils for MW size turbines in wind tunnels. Shear and turbulence inflow characteristics were measured on a Siemens 3.6 MW turbine with a five hole pitot tube. Pressure and turbulent inflow characteristics were measured on a 2MW NM80 turbine with an 80 m rotor. One of the LM38.8 m blades on the rotor was replaced with a new LM38.8 m blade where instruments for surface pressure measurements at four radial sections were build into the blade during the blade production process. Additionally, the out…