- Turbine with wake rotation

Definition of wake : The region of disturbed flow that develops behind an

object moving through a fluid (air or water).It occurs due to the pressure difference
between the front and rear surfaces of the object.

In the previous analysis using linear momentum theory, it was assumed that
no rotation was imparted to the flow. The previous analysis can be extended to the
case where the rotating rotor generates angular momentum, which can be related to
rotor torque. In the case of a rotating wind turbine rotor, the flow behind the rotor
rotates in the opposite direction to the rotor, in reaction to the torque exerted by the
flow on the rotor. An annular stream tube model of this flow, illustrating the rotation
of the wake, is shown in the following figure. It is an ideal Horizontal Axis Wind
Turbine with Wake Rotation

1
 Stream tube model of flow behind rotating wind turbine blade
with wake rotation

Geometry for rotor analysis;

Subscripts denote values at the cross-sections identified by numbers.

Terms :
• U is velocity of undisturbed air;
• a is induction factor and
• r is radius
• ω is angular velocity imparted to the flowstream
• Ω is angular velocity of the wind turbine rotor

The generation of rotational kinetic energy in the wake results in less energy
extraction by the rotor than would be expected without wake rotation. In general, the
extra kinetic energy in the wind turbine wake will be higher if the generated torque
is higher. Thus, as will be shown here, slow-running wind turbines (with a low
rotational speed and a high torque) experience more wake rotation losses than high-
speed wind machines with low torque.
Asumptions :
1. Angular velocity imparted to the flowstream is small compared to the
angular velocity (ω << Ω)
2. The pressure in the far wake is equal to the pressure in the free stream

2
 3.
The analysis that follows is based on the use of an annular stream tube :
• Radius r
• Thickness dr
• Cross-sectional area equal to 2πrdr
• The pressure, wake rotation, and induction factors are all assumed to be
functions of radius.

Across the flow disc, the angular velocity of the air relative to the blade increases
from Ω to Ω + ω, while the axial component of the velocity remains constant. The
results are given by Glauert H (Glauert, H.: Airplane Propellers, Aerodynamic
Theory (W. F. Durand, ed.), Div. L, Chapter XI. Berlin, Springer Verlag, 1935) as
follows :
p2 − p3 = ρ (Ω + 1 / 2ω )ωr 2 (1)
The resulting thrust on an annular element, dT, is:

dT = ( p2 − p3 )dA = [ ρ (Ω + 1 / 2ω )ωr 2 ]2πrdr (2)

An angular induction factor, a', is then defined as:

a' = ω/2Ω (3)
so ω = 2 Ω a' (4)

Note that when wake rotation is included in the analysis, the induced velocity at the
rotor consists of not only the axial component, Ua, but also a component in the rotor
plane, rΩa'.
The expression for the thrust by substituting (4) into (2) then it becomes :
1
dT = 4a ' (1 + a ' ) ρΩ 2 r 2 2πrdr (5)
2
The thrust on an annular cross-section can also be determined by the following
expression that uses the axial induction factor, a
1
dT = 4a (1 − a ) ρu∞2 2πrdr (6)
2
Note : In this case , it can be written : u∞ = U (see the above figure).
Equating the two expressions (eq. 5 and 6) for thrust gives:
3
 a(1 − a ) Ω 2 r 2
= 2 = λ2r (7)
a ' (1 + a ' ) u∞
where λr is called local tip speed ratio which is defined as the ratio of the blade tip
speed to the free stream wind speed, is given by:

ΩR
λ= (8)
U
The local speed ratio is the ratio of the rotor speed at some intermediate radius to
the wind speed:

Ωr λr λr r
λr = = or = (9)
u∞ R λ R

The torque exerted on the rotor,Q, must equal the change in angular
momentum of the wake. On an incremental annular area element this gives:
dQ = dm (ωr ) r = ρU 2 2πrdr (ωr )(r ) (10)

Since U2 = U(1- a) and a' = ω/2Ω this expression reduces to

dQ = ρ U (1 − a ) a '2Ωr 2 2πrdr
1
or dQ = 4a ' (1 − a ) ρUΩr 2 2πrdr (11)
2
The power generated at each element, dP, is given by:

dP = Ω.dQ

Substituting for dQ in this expression and using the definition of the local speed
ratio, λr (eq.9), the expression for the power generated at each element becomes:

1 8 
dP = ρAU 3  2 a' (1 − a )λ3r dλr  (12)
2 λ 
4
The incremental contribution to the power coefficient, dCP, from each annular ring
is given by:

dP
dCP = (12)
1 / 2 ρAU 3
Thus
8 λ
CP = 2 0
∫ a ' (1 − a )λ3r dλr (13)
λ

In order to integrate this expression, one needs to relate the variables a, a', and λr,
(see Glauert, 1948; Sengupta and Verma, 1992), Solving Equation (7) to express a'in
terms of a, one gets:

1 1  4 
a' = − + 1 + 2 a (1 − a ) (14)
2 2  λr 
The aerodynamic conditions for the maximum possible power production occur
when the term a'( 1- a) in Equation (13) is at its greatest value. Substituting the value
for a' from Equation (14) into a'(1 – a) and setting the derivative with respect to a
equal to zero yields:

2 (1 − a )(4a − 1) 2
λ =
r (15)
1 − 3a

This equation defines the axial induction factor for maximum power as a function of
the local tip speed ratio in each annular ring. Substituting into Equation (7), one finds
that, for maximum power in each annular ring:

1 − 3a
a' = (16)
4a − 1

If Equation (15) is differentiated with respect to a, one obtains a relationship between

dλr and da at those conditions that result in maximum power production:

5
 [
2λr dλr = 6( 4a − 1)(1 − 2a ) 2 /(1 − 3a ) 2 da ] (17)

Now, substituting the Equations (15)–(17) into the expression for the power
coefficient (Equation (13)) gives:

2
24 a 2  (1 − a )(1 − 2a )(1 − 4a ) 
C P , max = 2 ∫  (18)
λ a1  (1 − 3a ) 

Here the lower limit of integration, a1, corresponds to the axial induction factor for
λr = 0 and the upper limit, a2, corresponds to the axial induction factor at λr = λ.
From Equation (15) .

λ2 = (1 − 2a2 )( 4a2 − 1) 2 /(1 − 3a2 ) 2 (19)

Note that from Equation (15), a1 = 0:25 gives λr = 0

Equation (19) can be solved for the values of a2 that correspond to operation
at tip speed ratios of interest. Note also from Equation (3.39), a2 = 1/3 is the upper
limit of the axial induction factor, a, giving an infinitely large tip speed ratio.
The definite integral can be evaluated by changing variables: substituting x
for (1 - 3a) in Equation (18). The result is:

x = 0.25
8 64 5
C P , max = 2
x + 72 x 4 + 124 x 3 + 38 x 2 − 63 x − 12[ln ( x )] − 4 x −1 (20)
792λ 5 x = (1− 3 a 2 )

Power coefficient,CP;max, as a function of tip speed ratio, λ; a2 = axial induction

factor when the tip speed ratio equals the local speed ratio.

6
 The results of this analysis are graphically represented in Figure, which also
shows the Betz limit of the ideal turbine based on the previous linear momentum
analysis. The results show that, the higher the tip speed ratio, the closer the CP can
approach the theoretical maximum.

7
8