Closed loop control of aerodynamic load fluctuations on wind turbine airfoil using surface plasma actuators

In a century where the green energy is a vital challenge, research about wind turbine is taking its place to give an alternative solution to polluting and fossil energies. Various scales of studies are possible for wind turbine production and lifetime optimization, such as the farm, the wind turbine or the blade. In this study we focused on the alleviation of aerodynamic load fluctuations produced by airflow speed and incidence angle variations by means of active flow control. Wind turbine greatly loses its efficiency when faced to wind gusts, moreover, the blade life span is reduced by the load oscillations created by wind disturbances. Thus, a control technic based on a surface plasma actuator is studied to reduce lift oscillation and actively keep a constant lift. Plasma actuator is used to manipulate the air circulation around the blade, thus, the lift. Proofs of concepts are conducted thanks to experiments in a wind tunnel and through numerical modelling.