High Reynolds number unsteadiness assessment using 3D and 2D computational fluid dynamics simulations of a thick aerofoil equipped with a spoiler

An operating 2-MW wind turbine has been scanned and analysed using 2D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) blade element momentum (BEM) analysis. The current work illustrates full-scale 3D CFD simulations the differences between its impact on local aerofoil vortex shedding frequency. outcome shows that despite a pressure redistribution lift change introduced by span rotation, frequency remains similar thereby validating novel fatigue calculation method previously proposed.