Unified rotor modeling: experimental validation at full dynamic similarity and implications for turbine design and flow control

Arrays of energy harvesting turbomachines, such as wind and hydrokinetic turbines, are increasing in size in response to rapidly growing energy demand. Field experiments have demonstrated the potential to increase array energy production using flow control, but the realized gains are limited by empiricism used to address inflow-rotor misalignment and high thrust coefficient operation in the models that guide optimization. By addressing the transverse velocity generated by inflow-rotor misalignment and the wake pressure deficit in high thrust from first principles, the recently developed Unified Momentum Model reduces error and uncertainty in the predictions of the velocities induced by rotor thrust. To translate these advances into a predictive rotor model, we couple the Unified model with a blade element model to yield a fully predictive blade element momentum (BEM) model. We validate the Unified BEM predictions with first-of-their-kind high-pressure wind tunnel experiments of a model turbine in yaw misalignment across a range of tip speed ratios with diameter-based Reynolds number of 4 million. Additionally, we leverage this modelling framework to perform wind farm control optimization and validate the performance against high-fidelity large eddy simulations in atmospheric boundary layer flow. Our results highlight the model's potential to enhance wind farm flow control via a joint yaw-induction control strategy.