Wake deflection in Wind Turbines using Airfoils

Wake interactions pose a significant challenge in wind farm efficiency, leading to power losses and structural fatigue in downstream turbines. Although turbulent mixing restores flow velocity approximately 15 rotor diameters downstream, typical turbine spacing of 7–10 diameters results in partially recovered wakes. Reducing this spacing is crucial for improving wind farm layouts. Previous research has explored methods to "deflect" wakes using blade pitch control, demonstrating that applying synthetic forces into a wake can effectively alter its trajectory. However, a small caveat to this is that yawing leads to power losses. Building on this concept, we devised a novel approach to deflect the wake entirely upwards by using airfoils besides the turbine, which should minimize power losses. This method was initially realized through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations, which indicated promising results for closer placement of downstream turbines. The current phase of our research aims to validate these simulation findings with experimental data. Specifically, we will determine if physical deflectors can replicate the wake steering effects observed in CFD simulations. Successful validation would support the feasibility of compact wind farm layouts through controlled wake manipulation. This study combines theoretical insights, computational modeling, and experimental validation to address the critical issue of wake interactions in wind farms. The final manuscript will include and compare both CFD and experimental results, providing a comprehensive analysis of this innovative approach to enhancing wind farm efficiency.