ABSTRACT
The present paper introduces a parallelized coupled Navier-Stokes/Vortex-Panel solver (PCS) for incompressible high Reynolds number flow around horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWT). This coupling methodology reduces both artificial dissipation and computational cost. The coupled solver is applied to the NREL Phase VI rotor for fully attached flow. Results obtained for local blade loads are compared with experimental data and a vortex model based on a Lifting Line approach (VLM). It is indeed found that local blade loads obtained depend on at least ten revolutions of the vortex sheet in the wake.