the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
On the significance of rain droplet slowdown and deformation for leading-edge rain erosion
Abstract. Leading-edge rain erosion is a severe problem in the wind energy community since it leads to blade damage and a reduction in annual energy production in the order of several percent. The impact speed of rain droplets is a key driver for the erosion rate; therefore, its precise computation is essential. This study investigates the aerodynamic interaction of rain droplets and wind turbine blades. Based on findings from the literature and an analysis of the relevant parameter space, it is found that the aerodynamic interaction leads to a reduction in the impact speed. Additionally, the rain droplets deform and break up as they approach the wind turbine blade. An existing Lagrangian particle model, developed for research in aircraft icing, is adapted, extended, and validated for leading edge rain erosion to study the process in more detail. Results show that the droplet slowdown reduces predicted damage toward the tip of the blade by over 50 %. The model indicates that the aerodynamic blade interaction affects small droplets significantly more than large droplets. Due to this drop size dependency, the damage accumulation is shifted towards higher rain intensity events. Additionally, the droplet impact speed is sensitive to the aerodynamic nose radius of the airfoil. Due to this sensitivity and its drop size dependency, the slowdown effect provides interesting levers for erosion mitigation via blade design or operational adjustments. To conclude, the aerodynamic interaction between droplet and blade is non-negligible and needs to be taken into account in erosion lifetime models.
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RC1: 'Comment on wes-2023-169', Anonymous Referee #1, 26 Apr 2024
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GENERAL COMMENTS
The paper addresses Leading edge erosion (LEER) of wind turbine blades (WTB). In particular it explores the relative impact velocity between droplet and WTB leading edge as function of blade velocity, droplet size, droplet shape distortion and airfoil geometry. This is of broad international interest to WT operators, manufacturers and academia. It´s a highly relevant scientific topic within the scope of WES. The topic is important for understanding some of the governing parameters of leading edge erosion and the translation from rain erosion test results to field conditions and expected blade life with respect to erosion. The objectives of the paper are clear, and the scientific methods are clearly outlined. The assumptions and analysis seem valid. The presented results are sufficient to support the interpretations and associated discussion. The discussion is relevant and relate to the results and methods. The concept of modelling shape distortion and relative impact velocity as functions of blade velocity, droplet size, and airfoil geometry ad correlating it to erosion damage is new for WTB erosion and thus is the presented data. The authors refer and give credit to earlier related work and clearly indicate their own contribution. The title reflects the contents of the paper. However, it will be more informative if it relates “droplet slowdown and deformation” with “aerodynamic interaction with wind turbine blade airfoil” or something like it. The paper is generally well structured and written in good concise language. The abstract provides a concise and complete summary, including quantitative results. Figures and tables are useful and well explained in the text. Mathematical formulae, symbols, abbreviations, and units are appropriate. However, a list of symbols is highly recommended.
The methodology section contains a lot of background information and references to literature and earlier studies. This should be moved to the introduction. It could be in a section 1.1 “Background. The methodology should explain own work but can refer to the introduction and background section.
A discussion section would be welcome. Discuss your methods. E.g. discuss how the new knowledge affects the models for expected WT blade life (with respect to erosion) based on data from rain erosion test. Velocities, nose radii and droplet sizes may be different in the two situations.
The number and quality of references are appropriate.
There is no supplementary material. The authors state that code and data are available upon request.
A list of contents would enhance overview.
SPECIFIC COMMENTS
L2: up to a few percent.
L115: bubble starts growing: bag starts forming
Figure 6: own data or from literature?
L180-187 and beyond. Should be in background section. Maybe just refer to original work and present results. Is it necessary to derive?.
L205: Can that many decimals be justified?
L209: what is the difference between “free stream velocity” and “slip velocity”?
L323 and beyond: again move to background section.
L390-beyond: is it necessary to derive this, or enough to refer to Verma 2021? And it should be moved to the background section.
P30 and fig.23: What is a typical range of nose radii for the outboard parts of WT blades?
TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS
Figure 3 (and others?) missing statement of permission to reproduce.
L84: shapes: shape
L85: This is process: This process
Table 1: image quality could be better
L120: all resulting droplets: each resulting droplet
L137: error in the (computed) lifetime
L354: The figure: Fig.19
Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-2023-169-RC1
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