Tower shadow modelization with helicoidal vortex method

The helicoidal vortex model developed by the author is compared with data of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Unsteady Aerodynamics Experiment (UAE). The B Sequence has been used for this purpose. It corresponds to the downwind configuration where the blades cross the tower shadow. Several cases have been analyzed with wind speeds of V = 5, 7, 10 and 12 m/s and yaw angles of up to 30 degrees. The results indicate that the modelization of the tower shadow gives good results in the range of applicability of the vortex model, at a low computer cost, and demonstrates further the versatility of this approach. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.