Experimental Evaluation of Leading-Edge Flags on NACA 63(4)-021 Airfoil Section
摘要
Flow control methodologies play a crucial role in tailoring the aerodynamic characteristics of airfoil as man-made engineering structures are prone to flow separation. Incorporation of Leading-Edge Flags is one such passive flow control method which produces a periodic shedding of vortices which optimizes the flow over an airfoil by delaying the flow separation thus rendering the aerodynamic benefit for the wind turbines. The present paper focuses on the experimental investigation of effect of Leading-Edge Flags on the aerodynamic characteristics of wind turbine blades with NACA 63(4)-021 airfoil. This NACA profile has been chosen since the present study is planned to be extended to incorporate the effects of such Leading-Edge Flags in the bio-inspired Leading-Edge Protuberance Wind turbine blades as well. NACA 63(4)-021 airfoil has been used since it closely resembles the flippers of the humpback whale. The experiments were carried out in the Low-speed subsonic wind tunnel at Re = 1.71 × 105 for various structure to fluid mass ratio (μs). A series of wind tunnel experiments were performed to estimate the aerodynamic characteristics at various angles of attack ranging from 0° to 70° in increments of 5° at Re = 1.71 × 105. Preliminary testing of leading-edge flags reveals that flags do not withstand in the higher Reynolds number and get easily torn off. Hence, testing is limited to a lower Reynolds number. Additionally attempts will be made to test these flags on the modified biomimetic Leading-Edge Protuberance (LEP) wing.