Aerodynamic Upgrades of Wind Turbines and Wind Farms

Wind power is a mature technology for the generation of sustainable energy. In order to enhance its economic viability, the efficiency and lifetime of wind turbines should be optimized. This Research Topic aims to provide an overview of novel knowledge, references and investigations on active and passive flow control devices for wind turbine blades. The main goal is to achieve a lift enhancement, drag reduction and flow- induced noise reduction by delaying flow separation. Passive flow control methods (e.g. vortex generators, micro- tabs, gurney flaps, spoilers, fences, serrated trailing edge) allow improvements to the performance of wind turbines without external energy expenditure, whereas active based techniques (e.g. moving trailing edge flaps, air jet vortex generators, synthetic jets) involve external energy for device activation.

The purpose of this Research Topic is to spread the latest research results in this field for both academia and industrial applications. The reduction of extreme and fatigue loads as well as the optimization of energy production are of great importance for enhancing the economic viability of wind energy projects. There are three independent variables that play a decisive role on the cost of energy (COE):
1) the energy captured by the turbine or the wind farm over its lifetime,
2) the operation and maintenance (O&M) expenses
3) the capital cost of the turbine.

The first and second points can be positively influenced by the use of control flow devices. In many cases, their use won‘t affect significantly the third point. Therefore, active and passive flow control devices can be very helpful to reduce the wind energy cost of energy.

This Research Topic is devoted to both active and passive flow control devices in wind turbines and aerodynamic upgrades for improving the performance of a single turbine as well a group of them. Contributions based on theoretical, experimental as well as numerical work will be considered for publication. The goal is to expand the body of knowledge of this field of aerodynamics and in this way contribute to the enhancement of wind turbine efficiency as well as to the optimization of the economic feasibility of wind energy projects.

Keywords: Wind Turbine, Flow Control, Passive Devices, Active Devices, Aerodynamics, Cost of Energy, Energy, Efficiency, Load Alleviation, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Flow Separation

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.