TURBINE BLADE / AIR FLOW INTERACTIONS

We’re checking in with Professor Cardona at UNL (Universidad Nacional del Litoral) again this week.

 

Aside from the work detailed in a previous article UNL is also involved in the development of software that couples the processing done when carrying out simulations, but they’re not doing this alone. They are of course part of the UPWARDS consortium and are collaborating with SAMTECH on this exciting task!

 

Specifically, this task involves making significant improvements to the current simulation capabilities of the industry. In the previous article involving UNL I introduced two modelling software packages (STAR-CCM+ and SAMCEF-Mecano) and went into more detail regarding the modelling of materials (wind-turbine components) that is needed to run an improved simulation.

 

On this task SAMTECH and UNL are developing software that will allow continuous exchange of data between the structural component modelling-package and the air-flow modelling-package.

 

Normally, each time a simulation is carried out, it involves processing the ‘results for the wind-turbine components in Mecano and the ‘results for the air-flow’ in STAR-CCM+. Once each is ready, then the interaction of air-flow with the wind-turbine can be modelled by combining the results of the two modelling-packages. The interaction of models results thus occurs dynamically.

 “The goal is to make it possible to exchange data between structure modelling-package and fluid-flow modelling package…. this is not a matter of speed, it is a matter of modelling capability. We are looking to couple both codes and see the dynamic interactions between the deformation of blades and fluid flow”

              -Alberto Cardona

 

As can be expected accomplishing this is not without its difficulties, such as allowing for the smooth exchange of data between the modelling packages while maintaining representative and consistent sampling-meshes—to mention one among many. Thus, a good portion of time is dedicated to the testing & analysis of the results of the first working-version they have made. Nevertheless, UPWARDS’ consortium partners are committed to persevering.

“We are progressing well so far and are optimistic about maintaining the project timeline.”

              -Alberto Cardona

 

-Gary Grima

Posted 09/24/19