IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v313y2024ics0360544224038210.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Optimizing duct geometry for micro-scale VAWTs: Exploring aerodynamics and aeroacoustics with URANS and DDES models

Author

Listed:
  • Rahmatian, Mohammad Ali
  • Khaksar, Saba
  • Tari, Pooyan Hashemi
  • Karbasian, Hamid Reza

Abstract

Among several advantages of the Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs), such as the low cut-in speed, these turbines have lower efficiency compared to Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWTs). In order to increase the power of VAWTs, a novel approach is employed to address the aforementioned issue. In this study, a convergent-divergent duct (including three components: nozzle, diffuser, and flange) is used, and in the first step of this study, the angles and lengths of all duct components and throat width are optimized (in 3D configuration). In the optimization process, first, the design points are determined by the Design of Experiment (DOE) method, and for each design point, the flow field inside the duct is modeled by the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) approach. Moreover, the objective function of this optimization problem is to maximize the velocity of the flow inside the duct. In the following, the general treatment of the statistical population is forecasted using the Response Surface Method (RSM), and the optimal duct is obtained using the Genetic Algorithm (GA). It is observed that the optimal duct increases the local wind speed up to 1.99 times (from 5 m/s to 9.94 m/s at the throat). Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was performed on the duct components, which are the most effective parameters in increasing wind speed, nozzle angle, and nozzle length. In the second step, a Darrieus VAWT (with both 2D and 3D configurations) is numerically validated, and then this turbine is scaled-down and located in the optimal duct. The position and tip-clearance of a turbine within the optimal duct are investigated to find the best configuration for higher power generation. Subsequently, both the bare wind turbine and the ducted wind turbine undergo thorough aerodynamic and aeroacoustic analysis, using unsteady RANS and Delayed Detached Eddy Simulations (DDES) approaches, respectively. The results reveal a remarkable improvement in the aerodynamic efficiency (power coefficient increased up to 2.5 times) with the addition of the optimal duct, while the aeroacoustic performance of the system is compromised, leading to an increase in sound pressure level.

Suggested Citation

  • Rahmatian, Mohammad Ali & Khaksar, Saba & Tari, Pooyan Hashemi & Karbasian, Hamid Reza, 2024. "Optimizing duct geometry for micro-scale VAWTs: Exploring aerodynamics and aeroacoustics with URANS and DDES models," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:313:y:2024:i:c:s0360544224038210
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.134043
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544224038210
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2024.134043?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:313:y:2024:i:c:s0360544224038210. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.