Large-eddy simulation and wind-tunnel measurement of aerodynamics and aeroacoustics of a horizontal-axis wind turbine

Large-eddy simulation of the whole three-dimensional vortex dynamics and noise radiation around a horizontal-axis wind turbine has been studied and analyzed together with wind-tunnel experimental measurement. A computational framework that takes into account of the true shape of the wind turbine blade geometry for calculating the aerodynamics and aeroacoustics is developed and validated against the experimental data. The LES results generally agree well with the experimental data in terms of both the aerodynamics and aeroacoustics statistics. The formation and development of the complex three-dimensional wake vortexes are captured and analyzed, and the aerodynamic noise is further studied based on the flow field using the FW–H method. It is found that noise generation and acoustic radiation are closely associated with the generation and evolution of these vortex structures. The blade tip region is the main resource area of the aero-noise and the acoustic radiation intensity of the rotor decreases rapidly downstream.