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Aerodynamically Interacting Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines: Performance Enhancement and Three-Dimensional Flow

Author

Listed:
  • Ian D. Brownstein

    (Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA)

  • Nathaniel J. Wei

    (Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA)

  • John O. Dabiri

    (Mechanical Engineering and Civil & Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA)

Abstract

This study examined three-dimensional, volumetric mean velocity fields and corresponding performance measurements for an isolated vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) and for co- and counter-rotating pairs of VAWTs with varying incident wind direction and turbine spacings. The purpose was to identify turbine configurations and flow mechanisms that can improve the power densities of VAWT arrays in wind farms. All experiments were conducted at a Reynolds number of R e D = 7.3 × 10 4 . In the paired arrays, performance enhancement was observed for both the upstream and downstream turbines. Increases in downstream turbine performance correlate with bluff–body accelerations around the upstream turbine, which increase the incident freestream velocity on the downstream turbine in certain positions. Decreases in downstream turbine performance are determined by its position in the upstream turbine’s wake. Changes in upstream turbine performance are related to variations in the surrounding flow field due to the presence of the downstream rotor. For the most robust array configuration studied, an average 14% increase in array performance over approximately a 50° range of wind direction was observed. Additionally, three-dimensional vortex interactions behind pairs of VAWT were observed that can replenish momentum in the wake by advection rather than turbulent diffusion. These effects and their implications for wind-farm design are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Ian D. Brownstein & Nathaniel J. Wei & John O. Dabiri, 2019. "Aerodynamically Interacting Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines: Performance Enhancement and Three-Dimensional Flow," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-23, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:14:p:2724-:d:248875
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Villeneuve, Thierry & Winckelmans, Grégoire & Dumas, Guy, 2021. "Increasing the efficiency of vertical-axis turbines through improved blade support structures," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 1386-1401.
    4. Hansen, Joachim Toftegaard & Mahak, Mahak & Tzanakis, Iakovos, 2021. "Numerical modelling and optimization of vertical axis wind turbine pairs: A scale up approach," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 1371-1381.
    5. Galih Bangga, 2022. "Progress and Outlook in Wind Energy Research," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-5, September.
    6. Barnes, Andrew & Marshall-Cross, Daniel & Hughes, Ben Richard, 2021. "Towards a standard approach for future Vertical Axis Wind Turbine aerodynamics research and development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    7. Posa, Antonio, 2022. "Wake characterization of paired cross-flow turbines," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 1064-1094.
    8. Gauvin-Tremblay, Olivier & Dumas, Guy, 2022. "Hydrokinetic turbine array analysis and optimization integrating blockage effects and turbine-wake interactions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 851-869.
    9. Chloë Dorge & Eric Louis Bibeau, 2023. "Deep Learning-Based Prediction of Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes Solutions for Vertical-Axis Turbines," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-33, January.
    10. Villeneuve, Thierry & Dumas, Guy, 2021. "Impact of some design considerations on the wake recovery of vertical-axis turbines," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 1419-1438.
    11. Manuel Viqueira-Moreira & Esteban Ferrer, 2020. "Insights into the Aeroacoustic Noise Generation for Vertical Axis Turbines in Close Proximity," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-18, August.
    12. Jia Guo & Liping Lei, 2020. "Flow Characteristics of a Straight-Bladed Vertical Axis Wind Turbine with Inclined Pitch Axes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-23, November.
    13. Jeffrey E. Silva & Louis Angelo M. Danao, 2021. "Varying VAWT Cluster Configuration and the Effect on Individual Rotor and Overall Cluster Performance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-22, March.
    14. Ji Hao Zhang & Fue-Sang Lien & Eugene Yee, 2022. "Investigations of Vertical-Axis Wind-Turbine Group Synergy Using an Actuator Line Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-22, August.

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