A method for preliminary rotor design – Part 1: Radially Independent Actuator Disc model

Abstract. We present an analytical model for assessing the aerodynamic performance of a wind turbine rotor through different parametrization classical blade element momentum (BEM) model. The is named Radially Independent Actuator Disc (RIAD) model, and it establishes relationship between local thrust loading power, known as local-thrust coefficient local-power respectively. has direct physical interpretation, showing contribution each three losses: wake rotation loss, tip loss viscous loss. gradient RIAD found use complex step method, power optimization used to show how easily method can be optimization. main benefit ease with which applied especially load constraint described in Loenbaek et al. (2021). input chord twist established, validated against BEM solver.