DANAERO MW II: Influence of atmospheric and wake turbulence on MW turbine performance, loading and stability

The DANAERO MW II project was carried out in 2010-2012 and analyzed data from the DANAERO MW test that was carried out in 2007-2009. The DANAERO MW II analyzed data from 1) Seven airfoils tested in three different wind tunnels, 2) inflow measurements on a 3.6 MW Siemens wind turbine and 3) a heavily instrumented 2MW NM80 wind turbine, where blade surface pressures, boundary layer noise at the tip, strain gauges, accelerometers, wind speed wind direction, power etc. were sampled. Data from the latter test is unique because it is the first mega Watt wind turbine test in the world with detailed pressure measurements equipment and surface mounted microphones operating in atmospheric conditions, clarifying the influence from the atmospheric inflow on the boundary layer on the airfoil and thereby the aerodynamic characteristics, which again determines the wind turbine characteristics. The project was also unique because the partners consisted of DTU Wind Energy in cooperation with the three largest players in the Danish wind turbine industry, Vestas, Siemens and LM Wind Power. The measurement results have increased the credibility of existing design codes and wind tunnel tests and e.g. revealed mechanisms concerning noise generation from wind turbines and stand still vibrations of wind turbines.