Vortex interaction in the wake of a two- and three-bladed wind turbine

Abstract

The vortex interaction in the wake behind a two- and three-bladed model scale wind turbine is investigated. The two rotors have equal solidity, and produce similar power and thrust at the design tip speed ratio. Phase-averaged quantities of the wake flow from one to four rotor diameters behind the turbines are measured in a wind tunnel. It is found that the two-bladed turbine has slower wake recovery than the three-bladed turbine, and a larger velocity deficit is produced in the far wake. The tip vortices behind the two-bladed turbine is more stable than behind the three-bladed turbine, and the vortex structures exist further downwind. In a wind farm, this could reduce the power production and increase fatigue loads for the turbines operating in the wake flow, especially during stable atmospheric conditions.