Experimental Investigation of Surface Roughness Effects and Transition on Wind Turbine Performance

Aerodynamic experiments have been executed in the wind tunnel and on a wind turbine blade to measure the impact of roughness on the airfoil characteristics and the associated effect on rotor performance and to establish the transition location on a rotating blade. The wind tunnel tests have been performed in the low-speed, low-turbulence wind tunnel of TUDelft. The wind turbine tests were carried out at ECN’s Wind Turbine Test Site. Roughness simulation material has been installed on the airfoil leading edge to measure the impact on airfoil performance. Microphones were mounted on the airfoil surface to detect the boundary layer laminar to turbulent transition position both on the wind tunnel model and on the wind turbine blade.