Investigation of the three-dimensional flow past a flatback wind turbine airfoil at high angles of attack

Flatback airfoils are with a blunt trailing edge. They currently commonly used in the inboard part of large wind turbine blades, as they offer number aerodynamic, structural, and aeroelastic benefits. However, flow past them at high angles attack (AoA) has received relatively little attention until now. This is important because usually operate AoA Wind Turbine blades. The present investigation uses Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) hybrid RANS + eddy simulation predictions to analyze question. numerical results validated against previously published tunnel experiments. analysis reveals that successfully simulate this flow, spanwise extent computational domain crucial, more so than selection modeling approach. Additionally, low-drag regime observed before stall identified analyzed detail. Finally, complex interaction between three-dimensional separated beyond maximum lift (stall cells) vortex shedding from edge revealed.