Validation of the Beddoes-Leishman Dynamic Stall Model for Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines using MEXICO data

The aim of this study is to assess the load predicting capability of a classical Beddoes-Leishman dynamic stall model in a horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) environment, in the presence of yaw-misalignment. The dynamic stall model was tailored to the HAWT environment, and validated against unsteady thick airfoil data. Subsequently, the dynamic stall model was implemented in a blade element-momentum (BEM) code for yawed flow, and the results were compared with aerodynamic measurements obtained in the MEXICO (Model Rotor Experiments under Controlled Conditions ) project on a wind turbine rotor placed in a large scale wind tunnel. In general, reasonable to good agreement was found between the BEM model and MEXICO data. When large yawmisalignments were imposed, poor agreement was found in the downstroke of the movement between the model and the experiment. Still, over a revolution the maximum normal force coefficient predicted was always within 8% of experimental data at the inboard stations, which is encouraging especially when blade fatigue calculations are being considered.Control & OperationsAerospace Engineerin