IEA Wind Task 46 Aerodynamic Benchmark: Computational Aerodynamics Approaches for Assessing Blade Airfoil Performance Reduction due to Leading Edge Degradation

This research investigates the aerodynamic performance degradation of wind turbine (WT) blades resulting from leading edge (LE) surface damage, such as insect accumulation and erosion. Such degradation significantly diminishes blade efficiency, leading to quantifiable reductions in WT power and energy yield. Accurate estimation of these losses is critical for developing cost-effective maintenance strategies. The study leverages Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to predict aerodynamic performance losses, acknowledging the inherent sensitivity of these predictions to the chosen physical models and detailed computational settings. To address this, the International Energy Agency (IEA) Task 46 – Erosion of Wind Turbine Blades, initiated the First Aerodynamic Benchmark. This benchmark focuses on the NACA 633-418 airfoil,

examining its performance under moderate and severe LE degradation conditions. Experimental data from two wind tunnel campaigns serve as the reference for validation. The project involves a cross-comparison and benchmarking of predictions from seven distinct CFD codes and two low-fidelity aerodynamic methods against these experimental measurements. Furthermore, the impact of this degradation on a utility-scale WT, featuring the NACA 633-418 airfoil on its outboard section, is assessed to determine resulting power and energy losses in both onshore and offshore environments. Initial findings indicate that most computational approaches successfully predict the measured airfoil performance reduction for moderate LE degradation prior to stall conditions.

Message: Hi FE, I need help with “IEA Wind Task 46 Aerodynamic Benchmark: Computational Aerodynamics Approaches for Assessing Blade Airfoil Performance Reduction due to Leading Edge Degradation” in “Mechanical Engineering”