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Visualization of the tip vortices in a wind turbine wake

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Abstract

In the present study, an experimental study was conducted to characterize the formation and the evolution of the helical tip vortices and turbulent flow structures in the wake of a horizontal axis wind turbine model placed in an atmospheric boundary layer wind. A high-resolution particle image velocimetry system was used to make detailed flow field measurements to quantify the time evolution of the helical tip vortices in relation to the position of the rotating turbine blades in order to elucidate the underlying physics associated with turbine power generation and fatigue loads acting on the wind turbines.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Aerospace Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA

    Zifeng Yang, Partha Sarkar & Hui Hu

Authors
  1. Zifeng Yang
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  2. Partha Sarkar
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  3. Hui Hu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hui Hu.

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Yang, Z., Sarkar, P. & Hu, H. Visualization of the tip vortices in a wind turbine wake. J Vis 15, 39–44 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12650-011-0112-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12650-011-0112-z

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