51. Simple turbine feature

The identification tag for this tutorial is PDS-ABL. Pregenerated input files for this tutorial are found in the folder named PDS-ABL in the provided tutorial input files.

51.1. Tutorial overview

This tutorial covers:

  • Creating a turbine feature

51.2. Creating the base RigidBody

  • Create a new project.
  • Create a RigidBody DObject and call it platform.
  • Set $Kinematic 1 in the RigidBody input file.
  • Define the initial state of the platform to have a z position of -50 m (the turbine will be 50 m in the air).

Note

  • This will represent the stationary portion of the turbine.

51.3. Creating a turbine feature

  • Create a RigidBody turbine feature in the simulation Library by selecting Feature in PST then creating a RigidBodyTurbine feature called turbine_30m.

Note

  • Within the turbine feature library item the torque and thrust tables must be created.
  • These tables define torque and thrust to be applied to the turbine rotor for a given tip speed ratio (TSR). For TSR between data points, linear interpolation is employed.
  • Update the turbine properties as indicated below.
// Configuration
$Mode 2
$ReferenceAngularVelocity 171.89
$ReferenceSweptArea 700
$ReferenceDiameter 30
$IsCrossFlowTurbine 0
$RotationAxis 0
$CutInSpeed 0
$CutOutSpeed 100

// Scheduling
$ScheduleMode 0

// Thrust and Torque Data
$RelativeFluidVelocities 0

$TorqueCoefficient 0 0.1
$TorqueCoefficient 4.5 1
$TorqueCoefficient 8 0

$ThrustCoefficient 0 0
$ThrustCoefficient 4.5 0.5
$ThrustCoefficient 8 0.5

Note

  • By enabling the $Mode 2 property the turbine’s angular velocity will be constant during the simulation. The constant angular velocity is defined by $ReferenceAngularVelocity.
  • Add the turbine feature to the RigidBody using $Turbine turbine_30m 0 0 0 0 0 0.

51.4. Simulate the turbine in constant wind

  • In the environment input, set a constant uniform wind with speed of 10 m/s as indicated below.
$WindProfile 0
$WindHeading 0
$WindSpectrum 0
$WindSpeed 10
  • Run the simulation.

Note

  • With this wind speed and reference angular velocity, the tip speed ratio is 4.5.
  • Since this is an axial flow turbine, the expected thrust and torque values are 23 kN and in the X direction and 677 kNm about the X axis, respectively.
  • Confirm loading on the platform in the forces.dat file in the Results folder.

Note

  • Note the turbine feature only provides loading; there is no spinning rotor to visualize.