EFFECT OF ATMOSPHERIC TURBULENCE ON WINDMILL PERFORMANCE.

Abstract

Theoretical and experimental studies have been made to determine the effects of free stream turbulence structure on the performance of a simple airscrew windmill. A modified blade element method was developed to predict the fluctuating life forces on the rotor blades and computed vortex models of turbulence were used to represent the fluctuating velocity fields. Eventually the computer program will enable large rotor diameter windmill performance studies to be conducted and also comparisons to be made with small test rotors.