Ability of the e-TellTale sensor to detect flow features over wind turbine blades: flow separation/reattachment dynamics

TL;DR

This study evaluates the e-TellTale sensor's effectiveness in detecting flow separation and reattachment over wind turbine blades by comparing sensor data with PIV measurements, demonstrating promising results.

Contribution

The paper demonstrates the capability of the e-TellTale sensor to accurately detect flow separation and reattachment dynamics on wind turbine blades, validated against PIV data.

Findings

Good agreement between sensor readings and PIV measurements.

e-TellTale sensor effectively detects flow separation/reattachment.

Potential for real-time flow monitoring on turbines.

Abstract

Monitoring the flow features over wind turbine blades is a challenging task that has become more and more crucial. This paper is devoted to demonstrate the ability of the e-TellTale sensor to detect the flow separation/reattachment dynamics over wind turbine blades. This sensor is made of a strip with a strain gauge sensor at its base. The velocity field was acquired using TR- PIV measurements over an oscillating thick blade section equipped with an e-TellTale sensor. PIV images were post-processed to detect movements of the strip, which was compared to movements of flow. Results show good agreement between the measured velocity field and movements of the strip regarding the separation/reattachment dynamics.