Thorsten Lutz

Design and Wind-Tunnel Verification of Low-Noise Airfoils for Wind Turbines

A method for the prediction of the airfoil trailing-edge far-field noise is presented. The model employs the airfoil analysis code XFOIL to determine the initial and boundary conditions for a subsequent boundary-layer analysis using the finite-difference code EDDYBL featuring a Reynolds stress turbulence model that finally provides the input data for the noise prediction by a modified TNO Institute of Applied Physics model. The prediction scheme was applied in the European silent rotors by acoustic optimization project to design new, quieter airfoils for the outer blade region of three different wind turbines in the megawatt class. The objective was to reduce the airfoil self-noise without loss in aerodynamic performance

Numerical and Experimental Validation of Three-Dimensional Shock Control Bumps

Numerical and experimental studies have been performed to show the potential for drag reductions of an array of discrete three-dimensional shock control bumps. The bump contour investigated was specifically designed by means of CFD-based numerical optimization for wind tunnel testing on a modern transonic airfoil. The experimental investigations focused on turbulent flow at a Reynolds number of 5 million and were carried out at the

Drag Reduction and Shape Optimization of Airship Bodies

A tool for the numerical shape optimization of axisymmetric bodies submerged in incompressible flow at zero incidence has been developed. Contrary to the usual approach, the geometry of the body is not optimized in a direct way with this method. Instead, a source distribution on the body axis was chosen to model the body contour and the corresponding inviscid flowfield, with the source strengths being used as design variables for the optimization process. Boundary-layer calculation is performed by means of a proved integral method. To determine the transition location, a semiempirical method based on linear stability theory (e n method) was implemented. A commercially available hybrid optimizer as well as an evolution strategy with covariance matrix adaption of the mutation distribution are applied as optimization algorithms. Shape optimizations of airship hulls were performed for different Reynolds number regimes. The objective was to minimize the drag for a given volume of the envelope and a prescribed airspeed range

Shock-wave/boundary-layer interaction control using three-dimensional bumps for transonic wings

Three-dimensional bumps have been developed and investigated, aiming at the two major objectives of shock-wave / boundary-layer interaction control, i.e. drag reduction and suppression of separation, simultaneously. An experimental investigation has been conducted for a default rounded bump in channel now at University of Cambridge and a computational study has been performed for a spanwise series of rounded bumps mounted on a transonic aerofoil at University of Stuttgart. Observed in both cases are wave drag reduction owing to A-shock structures produced by three-dimensional surface bumps and mild control effects on the boundary layer. The effects of rough surface and tall extension have been investigated as well as several geometric variations and multiple bump configurations. A double configuration of narrow rounded bumps has been found to best perform amongst the tested, considerably reducing wave drag through a well-established A-shock structure with little viscous penalty and thus achieving substantial overall drag reduction. Counter-rotating streamwise vortex pairs have been produced by some configurations as a result of local flow separation, but they have been observed to be confined in relatively narrow wake regions, expected to be beneficial in suppressing large-scale separation under off-design condition despite increase of viscous drag. On the whole a large potential of three-dimensional control with discrete rounded bumps has been demonstrated both experimentally and numerically, and experimental investigation of bumps fitted on a transonic aerofoil or wing is suggested toward practical application.

Experimental investigations on hull-fin interferences of the LOTTE airship

In the present paper experimental aerodynamic investigations on an airship configuration at angle of attack with special emphasis on the hull-fin region are reported. In particular, visualizations of flow phenomena on both hull and fins are studied. Quantitative measurements of the integral force and moment characteristics as well as local pressure coefficients serve to establish a data pool for code validation.

Numerical Optimization of Finite Shock Control Bumps

Shock control is an important mean to further increase the aerodynamic efficiency of transport aircraft. One promising approach to reduce the strength of occuring shock waves is the shock control bump. In the current paper a straight forward approach to the application of shock control bumps to swept wings is presented. Finite span shock control bumps are mounted on an infinite span wing. Directly applied 2d–optimized shock control bumps are analysed for the unswept and swept wing. Spanwise finite shock control bumps are designed for the swept wing using direct numerical optimization. It is shown that in the unswept flow case the efficiency of finite shock control bumps is better than on swept wings. In oblique flow, finite span shock control bumps suffer increasing losses in efficiency with decreasing spanwise extension. Some improvements may be achieved by a more detailed design of the spanwise flanks of finite bumps.

Investigations on Shock Control Bumps for Inflnite Swept Wings

In the context of adaptive wings for future transport aircraft the potential of a shock control bump for reducing wave drag is investigated using a direct numerical optimization approach. Evaluation of the designs is accomplished by a RANS and a coupled Euler{ boundary{layer code. Firstly, the difierent analysis tools are compared for two{dimensional airfoil ∞ows. Thereafter, the method is applied to the optimization of shock control bumps for inflnite swept wings. It is shown that within the accuracy of the turbulence models considered, neither the optimum shock control bump contour, nor its e‐ciency is signiflcantly in∞uenced by oblique ∞ow. This could not be excluded a priori due to the mixing character of inherently three{dimensional turbulent boundary{layers.

CFD studies on rotational augmentation at the inboard sections of a 10 MW wind turbine rotor

In the analysis of the aerodynamic performance of wind turbines, the need to account for the effects of rotation is important as engineering models often failed to predict these phenomena. Investigations are carried out by employing an unsteady computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach on a generic 10 MW AVATAR (Advanced Aerodynamic Tools for Large Rotors) blade. The focus of the studies is the evaluation of the 3D effect characteristics on thick airfoils in the root area. For preliminary studies, 2D simulations of the airfoils constructing the blade and 3D simulations of the turbine near the rated conditions are carried out. The 2D simulations are in good agreement with available measurements within the linear lift region, but the accuracy deteriorates in the post stall region. For the 3D wind turbine rotor results, the prediction is consistent with other CFD computations obtained from the literature. Further calculations of the rotor are conducted at 5 different wind speeds ranging from below to above...

Joint experimental and numerical approach to three-dimensional shock control bump research

Previous studies of transonic shock control bumps have often been either numerical or experimental. Comparisons between the two have been hampered by the limitations of either approach. The present work aims to bridge the gap between computational fluid dynamics and experiment by planning a joint approach from the outset. This enables high-quality validation data to be produced and ensures that the conclusions of either aspect of the study are directly relevant to the application. Experiments conducted with bumps mounted on the floor of a blowdown tunnel were modified to include an additional postshock adverse pressure gradient through the use of a diffuser as well as introducing boundary-layer suction ahead of the test section to enable the in-flow boundary layer to be manipulated. This has the advantage of being an inexpensive and highly repeatable method. Computations were performed on a standard airfoil model, with the flight conditions as free parameters. The experimental and computational setups wer...

Vortical structures on three-dimensional shock control bumps

Three-dimensional shock control bumps have long been investigated for their promising wave drag reduction capability. However, a recently emerging application has been their deployment as “smart” vortex generators, which offset the parasitic drag of their vortices against their wave drag reduction. It is known that three-dimensional shock control bumps produce streamwise vortices under most operating conditions; however, there have been very few investigations that have aimed to specifically examine the relevant flow structures. In particular, the strength of the vortices produced as well as the factors influencing their production are not well known. This paper uses a joint experimental and computational approach to test three different shock control bump shapes, categorizing their flow structures. Four common key vortical structures are observed, predominantly shear flows, although all bumps also produce a streamwise vortex pair. Both cases with and without flow separation on the bump tails are scrutini...