Simulation Study Compares Four Blade Element Momentum Yaw Correction Models

A new simulation study has evaluated how different blade element momentum correction models predict wind turbine aerodynamic loads and power output when incoming airflow strikes the rotor at an angle. Classic blade element momentum theory relies on the assumption that airflow strikes the rotor plane perpendicularly, but operating wind turbines frequently encounter skewed inflow conditions during active yaw misalignment. To account for these dynamic effects, aerodynamicists incorporate mathematical correction algorithms into standard engineering models. Researchers compared four established skewed inflow correction schemes across varying operational conditions to quantify differences in their aerodynamic and power output predictions.

The investigation tested the Glauert, Øye, IFPEN, and Branlard yaw correction formulations within the MoWiT simulation framework. The study evaluated how each formulation influences one-revolution averaged sectional aerodynamic loads along turbine blades as well as overall power output. By examining rotor performance across a spectrum of yaw angles and operational wind speeds, the authors analyzed the consistency and behavioral disparities among the competing engineering models.

To provide an independent benchmark for the engineering approximations, the researchers conducted detailed comparisons against computational fluid dynamics simulations at selected skew inflow angles. The resulting data revealed that no single correction model uniformly outperformed the other three across all evaluated blade aerodynamic load quantities.

In the power output analyses, model predictions exhibited divergence as the degree of yaw misalignment expanded. In the targeted comparison against high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics data, the IFPEN model achieved the closest agreement with the simulated power output at the tested yawed operating condition.

The authors reported that the predictive fidelity of turbine power calculations deteriorated progressively as inflow angles became increasingly skewed. The findings emphasize that blade-level aerodynamic forces and aggregate rotor power production respond differently to skewed inflow and must be assessed as separate modeling challenges rather than treated as directly interchangeable metrics.

Based on their simulation findings, the authors stressed the necessity of developing variable yaw-loss exponent models capable of adjusting across diverse operating conditions.

Subject of Research: Evaluation of blade element momentum yaw correction models for wind turbines under skewed inflow

Article Title: Assessment of the effects of BEM correction models on aerodynamic loads and power under yawed inflow

Article References: Thomas, P., & da Silva Shimonishi, M. (2026). Assessment of the effects of BEM correction models on aerodynamic loads and power under yawed inflow. https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-2026-213

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.5194/wes-2026-213

Keywords: wind turbine aerodynamics, blade element momentum theory, yawed inflow, aerodynamic loads, power prediction, MoWiT simulations, computational fluid dynamics, IFPEN model, Glauert model, Oye model, Branlard model, yaw misalignment, rotor aerodynamics, skewed inflow, wind energy science, turbine simulation