Wind Turbine Power Harvesting Control Through Active Fluid Gurney Flaps

Abstract Meeting the increasing energy demand necessitates harvesting green power to overcome challenges such as population density and location restrictions that impede wind farm development. One promising solution is the implementation of an Active Fluid Gurney Flap (AFGF), which enables airflow control and addresses the limitations of conventional Gurney Flaps. The performance of the AFGF can be fine-tuned by modulating the jet flow pressure over time, optimizing its effectiveness. This research employs a two-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model, developed in ANSYS Fluent, to evaluate the performance of the AFGF under flow conditions characterized by a Reynolds number of Re = 1 × 106. A comparative analysis was performed between the baseline airfoil and configurations incorporating conventional Gurney Flaps as well as the proposed AFGF design. The AFGF was strategically positioned on the pressure side of the trailing edge to enable air injection at a constant total pressure level, denoted as P0i. URANS (Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes) simulations were conducted to analyze the aerodynamic behavior of the various setups under different operating scenarios. The activation of the AFGF modifies the pressure distribution over the airfoil, demonstrating its capacity to enhance lift. Specifically, the AFGF induces greater expansion on the suction side while promoting diffusion on the pressure side. This effect arises from the downward deflection of the airflow caused by the AFGF, which increases circulation around the airfoil. The innovative AFGF technology significantly enhances power generation capabilities while offering controllability through adjustments to the injection pressure. Additionally, the AFGF preserves the original airfoil geometry when not in operation, maintaining aerodynamic efficiency and adaptability.