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Drag reduction of large wind turbine blades through riblets: Evaluation of riblet geometry and application strategies

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  • Chamorro, Leonardo P.
  • Arndt, R.E.A.
  • Sotiropoulos, F.

Abstract

Wind tunnel experiments were performed to quantify the drag reduction on a wind turbine airfoil partially or fully covered with riblets. A full-scale 2.5 MW wind turbine airfoil section, typical for the near tip, was placed in the free stream flow of the wind tunnel at the Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory, University of Minnesota. Various sizes and geometries of experimental riblets were provided by 3M Company and tested at angles of attack ranging from 0° ≤ α ≤ 10° (0.25 ≤ CL ≤ 1.14) and at a Reynolds number of Re = 2.2 × 106. Mean drag was measured via wake survey (momentum deficit) and with a sensitive force balance. Lift was measured directly from the force balance. Tests included the cases of complete and partial riblet coverage on the wing. Results indicated that riblets could provide an overall reduction of skin friction drag, and that the amount of the decrease varied with riblet height and geometry. Partial riblet coverage appears in some cases more efficient than its complete coverage counterpart. The percentage of drag the riblets reduced varied greatly and in some cases the riblets were even detrimental to the airfoil. The most efficient riblet for a completely covered airfoil was found to be the V-groove shape of 100 μm height. It produced a reduction of roughly 6% in the operational range expected in a turbine airfoil. On the other hand, the most efficient riblet size for partial coverage was also a V-groove shape and seemed to shift slightly to a smaller peak height of 80 μm. This configuration produced a reduction of roughly 4% in the range of angle of attack that is typical for operation in the field. The average non-dimensional square root of the groove cross-section, l+, defined in terms of the drag coefficient at design angle of attack for the optimum riblet configuration in the fully coverage case was found to be l+≈10, which is very close to the optimum value found for planar surfaces. Based on our results we propose a formulation for the optimum riblet size in airfoil considering the mean drag coefficient and chord length Reynolds number. Even though the optimum full coverage case showed better performance that the partial case, the additional drag reduction benefit may be offset by the additional application cost.

Suggested Citation

  • Chamorro, Leonardo P. & Arndt, R.E.A. & Sotiropoulos, F., 2013. "Drag reduction of large wind turbine blades through riblets: Evaluation of riblet geometry and application strategies," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 1095-1105.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:50:y:2013:i:c:p:1095-1105
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2012.09.001
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    Cited by:

    1. Koca, Kemal & Genç, Mustafa Serdar & Ertürk, Sevde, 2022. "Impact of local flexible membrane on power efficiency stability at wind turbine blade," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 1163-1173.
    2. Sedighi, Hamed & Akbarzadeh, Pooria & Salavatipour, Ali, 2020. "Aerodynamic performance enhancement of horizontal axis wind turbines by dimples on blades: Numerical investigation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    3. Tiainen, Jonna & Grönman, Aki & Jaatinen-Värri, Ahti & Pyy, Lauri, 2020. "Effect of non-ideally manufactured riblets on airfoil and wind turbine performance," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 79-89.
    4. Wang, Longjun & Alam, Md. Mahbub & Rehman, Shafiqur & Zhou, Yu, 2022. "Effects of blowing and suction jets on the aerodynamic performance of wind turbine airfoil," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 52-64.
    5. Taurista P. Syawitri & Yufeng Yao & Jun Yao & Budi Chandra, 2022. "A review on the use of passive flow control devices as performance enhancement of lift‐type vertical axis wind turbines," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 11(4), July.
    6. Akhter, Md Zishan & Ali, Ahmed Riyadh & Jawahar, Hasan Kamliya & Omar, Farag Khalifa & Elnajjar, Emad, 2023. "Performance enhancement of small-scale wind turbine featuring morphing blades," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    7. Dang, Zhigao & Song, Baowei & Mao, Zhaoyong & Yang, Guangyong, 2022. "Performance analysis of a horizontal axis ocean current turbine with spanwise microgrooved surface," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 655-667.
    8. Wang, Ying & Li, Gaohui & Shen, Sheng & Huang, Diangui & Zheng, Zhongquan, 2018. "Investigation on aerodynamic performance of horizontal axis wind turbine by setting micro-cylinder in front of the blade leading edge," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 1107-1124.
    9. Shafiqur Rehman & Md. Mahbub Alam & Luai M. Alhems & M. Mujahid Rafique, 2018. "Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine Blade Design Methodologies for Efficiency Enhancement—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-34, February.
    10. Azlan, F. & Tan, M.K. & Tan, B.T. & Ismadi, M.-Z., 2023. "Passive flow-field control using dimples for performance enhancement of horizontal axis wind turbine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).
    11. Koca, Kemal & Genç, Mustafa Serdar & Bayır, Esra & Soğuksu, Fatma Kezban, 2022. "Experimental study of the wind turbine airfoil with the local flexibility at different locations for more energy output," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PA).
    12. Gao, Linyue & Zhang, Hui & Liu, Yongqian & Han, Shuang, 2015. "Effects of vortex generators on a blunt trailing-edge airfoil for wind turbines," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 303-311.
    13. Qi, Yinke & Xu, Shengyan & Huang, Diangui, 2021. "Investigation on aerodynamic performance of horizontal axis wind turbine by setting micro-plate in front of the blade leading edge," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 2309-2321.

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