A parallelized coupled Navier-Stokes/Vortex-Panel solver

A Navier-Stokes solver, CFX V5.6, is coupled with an in-house developed Vortex-Panel method for the numerical analysis of wind turbines. The Navier-Stokes zone is confined to the near-field around one wind turbine blade, the Vortex-Panel method models the entire vortex sheet of a two-bladed rotor and accounts for the far-field. This coupling methodology reduces both numerical diffusion and computational cost. The parallelized coupled solver (PCS) is applied to the NREL Phase VI rotor configuration under no-yaw conditions. Fully turbulent flow is assumed using the k-ε and k-ω turbulence models. Results obtained are very encouraging for fully attached flow. For separated and partially stalled flow, results are in good agreement with experimental data. Discrepancies observed between the turbulence models are attributed to different prediction of the onset of separation. This is revealed by two-dimensional (2D) results of the S809 airfoil.