Posters
Come meet the poster presenters to ask them questions and discuss their work
We would like to invite you to come and see the posters at our upcoming conference. The posters will showcase a diverse range of research topics, and will give delegates an opportunity to engage with the authors and learn more about their work. Whether you are a seasoned researcher or simply curious about the latest developments in your field, we believe that the posters will offer something of interest to everyone. So please join us at the conference and take advantage of this opportunity to learn and engage with your peers in industry and the academic community.
PO458: Active fluid flow control for enhanced and regulated wind turbine power harvesting
Jorge Saavedra, Associate Professor, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
Abstract
To address the spatial constraints of large-scale wind farms and growing demand for clean energy1, this study explores the aerodynamic control potential of the Active Fluid Gurney Flap (AFGF)2, a novel flow control device that uses trailing-edge jet injection to manipulate airflow without modifying the airfoil’s geometry. Using two-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations, the aerodynamic performance of an S809 wind turbine airfoil equipped with an AFGF is investigated at a Reynolds number of one million. This manuscript explores the aerodynamic effectiveness of various jet injection pressures and their influence on the actual turbine power harvesting capabilities. Results are compared against both a clean baseline airfoil and one fitted with a traditional mechanical Gurney flap. Simulations are carried out using ANSYS Fluent with the Transition SST model under an Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) approach to capture the unsteady flow dynamics associated with active jet actuation. Findings reveal that the AFGF can effectively enhance lift and circulation through localized flow attachment and pressure redistribution, largely governed by the Coanda effect. Crucially, the system exhibits no aerodynamic penalty when inactive, maintaining the original airfoil characteristics. The study highlights the AFGF's potential as a controllable aerodynamic enhancement method. By tuning injection pressure, the device can dynamically adjust performance, offering benefits in load modulation, torque generation, and system adaptability. These findings support the feasibility of AFGF technology in wind energy applications where responsive aerodynamic control is essential.
No recording available for this poster.
