Vortex generators are used in aircraft wings and wind turbine blades. These devices allow them to maintain a stable turbulent behavior in the wind wake. Vortex generators, or VGs, improve the transition from laminar to turbulent boundary layer regime, avoiding abrupt shedding. HAWT wind turbines have high rotational velocity. Currently, HAWT turbines are being redesigned with fixed vortex generators, achieving higher energy production. This paper presents a wind tunnel analysis of a fixed-wire blade with S822 airfoil and active VGs bio-inspired by the flight-stabilizing feathers of the peregrine falcon. Vibrations measured on the blade show a reduction in intensity at wind velocities close to 15 m/s. The measured wake velocities show fluctuations at higher tunnel wind velocities. An FFT spectral analysis of the wind wake velocities showed differences between the spectral components. When activating the VGs in oscillation at a constant frequency, a reduction of the vibrations on the blade was observed for wind velocities around 20 m/s.

Vortex generators are devices that modify the wind behavior near the surface of wind turbine blades. Their use allows the boundary layer shedding transition zone to be varied. Bio-inspired design has been used to improve the efficiency of aerodynamic and hydrodynamic systems by creating devices that use shapes present in animals and plants. In this work, an experimental methodology is proposed to study the effect of bio-inspired vortex generators and their effect on the structural vibration of a blade. In addition, the wind wake generated by the blade with oscillating vortex generators at different oscillation frequencies is analyzed by means of a hot wire anemometer, obtaining appreciable vibration reduction results in the measured 3D acceleration signals for wind velocities between 10 and 15 m/s. Values of the spectral components of the wake velocity measured at higher tunnel wind velocities increase. Spectral variance is reduced at higher tunnel wind velocities. The system analyzed in this paper can contribute in the future to the construction of actuators for vibration compensation systems in wind turbines.

This study presents a comparative analysis of horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs) equipped with and without bio-inspired active oscillating vortex generators (VGs). The experimental investigation examines key aspects of mechanical integration and the resulting variations in aerodynamic behavior, demonstrating measurable improvements in electrical power output. The VGs were designed and implemented using servomechanisms and embedded control systems to enable oscillatory motion during operation. Experimental findings were validated against CFD simulations, indicating that the use of VGs increases annual energy production efficiency by 16.7%, primarily due to the stabilization of wake turbulence. While a reduction in output voltage was observed at wind speeds below 5 m/s, the VGs exhibited enhanced performance under variable wind conditions. These results highlight the potential of combining biomimetic design principles with electronically actuated flow-control devices to advance HAWT technology, improving energy efficiency and contributing to operational sustainability.

The peregrine falcon, known as the fastest bird in the world, has been studied for its ability to stabilize during high-speed dives, a capability attributed to the configuration of its dorsal feathers. These feathers have inspired the design of vortex generators devices that promote controlled turbulence to delay boundary layer separation on aircraft wings and turbine blades. This study presents an experimental wind tunnel investigation of a bio-inspired peregrine falcon prototype, equipped with movable artificial feathers, a hot-wire anemometer, and a 3D accelerometer. Wake velocity profiles measured behind the prototype revealed fluctuations associated with feather motion. Spectral analysis of the velocity signals, recorded with oscillating feathers at a wind tunnel speed of 10 m/s, showed attenuation of specific frequency components, suggesting that feather dynamics may help mitigate wake fluctuations induced by structural vibrations. Three-dimensional acceleration measurements indicated that prototype vibrations remained below 1 g, with peak differences along the X and Z axes ranging from −0.06 g to 0.06 g, demonstrating the sensitivity of the vibration sensing system. Root Mean Square (RMS) values of velocity signals increased with wind tunnel speed but decreased as the feather inclination angle rose. When the mean value was subtracted from the signal, higher RMS variability was observed, reflecting increased flow disturbance from feather movement. Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analysis revealed that, for fixed feather angles, spectral magnitudes increased uniformly with wind speed. In contrast, dynamic feather oscillation produced distinctive frequency peaks, highlighting the feather’s influence on the wake structure in the frequency domain. To complement the experimental findings, 3D CFD simulations were conducted on two HAWT-type wind turbines—one with bio-inspired vortex generators and one without. The simulations showed a significant reduction in turbulent kinetic energy contours in the wake of the modified turbine, particularly in the Y-Z plane, compared to the baseline configuration.

Context:  Wind energy sources utilize renewable, free, and environmentally friendly resources, so there are projects focused on the design of wind turbines to increase their efficiency. Simulations using computational fluid dynamics techniques allow designs to be analyzed. which, are then validated through experimentation and wind tunnel measurements. Method: Data acquisition is performed by using Wind Sensor Rev.P sensors to measure wind velocity, and MMA7361 accelerometer to measure the vibrations generated by the wind in the turbine. Additionally, an ESP32 is required to process and transmit the data via Bluetooth, thus facilitating the installation of the real-time monitoring module inside the wind tunnel. Results: A monitoring module with a sampling rate of 5 ms was obtained, thus allowing real-time data acquisition, with a resolution of 12 bits for good data capturing accuracy and a transmission rate of approximately 74000 bps. An application capable of plotting 3D acceleration and 2D wind speed signals was also created. Conclusions: The device developed serves as a support for future wind turbine design projects since it is wireless, its installation is simple, it facilitates data collection inside a wind tunnel, and it allows visualizing the turbine’s behavior in real time by means of a graphic interface. Contexto: Las fuentes de energía eólica aprovechan recursos renovables, gratuitos y respetuosos con el medioambiente, por lo cual existen proyectos enfocados en diseñar turbinas eólicas para aumentar su eficiencia. Las simulaciones mediante técnicas de dinámica de fluidos computacionales permiten analizar diseños, los cuales son luego validados mediante experimentación y mediciones en túneles de viento. Método: La adquisición de datos se realiza mediante el uso de los sensores Wind Sensor Rev.P para medir la velocidad del viento y del acelerómetro MMA7361 para medir las vibraciones generadas por el viento en la turbina. Adicionalmente se requiere una ESP32 para procesar y transmitir los datos mediante Bluetooth, facilitando la instalación del módulo de monitoreo en tiempo real dentro del túnel de viento. Resultados: Se obtuvo un módulo de monitoreo con una frecuencia de muestreo de 5 ms, lo que permite la adquisición de los datos en tiempo real, con una resolución de 12 bits para una buena precisión en la toma de datos y una velocidad de transmisión de aproximadamente 74000 bits por segundo. También se creó una aplicación capaz de graficar las señales de aceleración en 3D y velocidad del viento en 2D. Conclusiones: El dispositivo desarrollado sirve como soporte para futuros proyectos de diseño de aerogeneradores, ya que es inalámbrico, su instalación es sencilla, facilita la recolección de datos dentro de un túnel de viento y permite visualizar el comportamiento de la turbina en tiempo real mediante una interfaz gráfica.

En este estudio se realiza un análisis numérico de torque en turbinas con modificaciones denominadas generadores de vórtice (VGs) mediante el uso de simulación computacional de la dinámica de fluidos (CFD) en 3D. Los torques simulados se obtienen para variaciones de inclinación angular de los generadores de vórtice ubicados en los extra-dorsos de las aspas y dos diferentes temperaturas de aire. Los resultados muestran que el máximo torque se presenta con una temperatura de 10°C y ángulo de inclinación de generadores de vórtice de 30° con valor de 8.5 Nm. El mínimo torque se observa con temperatura de 25°C y ángulo de inclinación de 45° con valor de 4.2 Nm. En conclusión, la simulación CFD muestra que a una mayor temperatura del aire se reduce el torque en la turbina, reduciendo la potencia mecánica rotacional, y que los generadores de vórtice reducen la energía cinética de turbulencia (TKE) en la estela de viento generada.