Wake Aerodynamic of Multi-Rotor System with Lifting-Devices Under Different Ambient Turbulence

Abstract The aerodynamics of the multi-rotor system with lifting-devices (MRSL), an innovative concept of wind energy harvesting machine, is preliminary investigated using Large Eddy Simulation (LES) with actuator techniques. In the current setup, turbulent inflow conditions are considered, but inflow wind shear is excluded. Consistent with previous studies, the results demonstrate faster wake recovery of the MRSL compared to its conventional counterpart, namely the wind turbine system without the lifting-devices. Additionally, a set of high-fidelity simulations further reveals that the enhanced wake recovery is robust under both laminar and turbulent inflow conditions, remaining largely unaffected by variations in the ambient turbulence level. The present work provides proof-of-concept evidence that the effectiveness of MRSLs is not significantly hindered by ambient turbulence, motivating future research to evaluate their performance within a realistic atmospheric boundary layer.