The Blade Element Momentum model, which is based on the actuator disc theory, is still the model most used for the design of open rotors. Although derived from steady cases with a fully developed wake, this approach is also applied to unsteady cases, with additional engineering corrections. This work aims to study the impact of an unsteady loading on the wake of an actuator disc. The load and flow of an actuator disc are measured in the Open Jet Facility wind tunnel of Delft University of Technology, for steady and unsteady cases. The velocity and turbulence profiles are characterized in three regions: the inner wake region, the shear layer region and the region outside the wake. For unsteady load cases, the measured velocity field shows a hysteresis effect in relation to the loading, showing differences between the cases when loading is increased and loading is decreased. The flow field also shows a transient response to the step change in loading, with either an overshoot or undershoot of the velocity in relation to the steady-state velocity. In general, a smaller reduced ramp time results in a faster velocity transient, and in turn a larger amplitude of overshoot or undershoot. Time constants analysis shows that the flow reaches the new steady-state slower for load increase than for load decrease; the time constants outside the wake are generally larger than at other radial locations for a given downstream plane; the time constants of measured velocity in the wake show radial dependence.The data are relevant for the validation of numerical models for unsteady actuator discs and wind turbines, and are made available in an open source database (see Appendix).@en

The state of the art engineering dynamic in ow models of Pitt-Peters, ¬ye and ECN have been used to correct Blade Element Momentum theory for unsteady load prediction of a wind turbine for two decades. However, their accuracy is unknown. This paper is to benchmark the performance of these engineering models by experimental and numerical methods. The experimental load and ow measurements of an unsteady actuator disc were performed in the Open Jet Facility at Delft University of Technology. The unsteady load was generated by a ramp-type variation of porosity of the disc. A Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) model, a Free Wake Vortex Ring (FWVR) model and a Vortex Tube Model (VTM) simulate the same transient load changes. The velocity
eld obtained from the experimental and numerical methods are compared with the engineering dynamic in ow models. Velocity comparison aft the disc between the experimental and numerical methods shows the numerical models of RANS and FWVR model are capable to predict the velocity transient behaviour during transient disc loading. Velocity comparison at the disc between the engineering models and the numerical methods further shows that the engineering models predict much faster velocity decay, which implies the need for more advanced or better tuned dynamic in ow models.
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