IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v16y2023i5p2250-d1081040.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Effect of Macroscopic Turbulent Gust on the Aerodynamic Performance of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

Author

Listed:
  • Lakshmi Srinivasan

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amrita School of Engineering Coimbatore, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore 641112, India)

  • Nishanth Ram

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amrita School of Engineering Coimbatore, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore 641112, India)

  • Sudharshan Bharatwaj Rengarajan

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amrita School of Engineering Coimbatore, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore 641112, India)

  • Unnikrishnan Divakaran

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amrita School of Engineering Coimbatore, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore 641112, India)

  • Akram Mohammad

    (Department of Aerospace Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia)

  • Ratna Kishore Velamati

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amrita School of Engineering Coimbatore, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore 641112, India)

Abstract

Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs) have proven to be suitable for changing wind conditions, particularly in urban settings. In this paper, a 2D URANS (Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier Stokes) numerical analysis is employed for an H-Darrieus VAWT. A turbulent domain is created through systemically randomising the inlet velocity to create macro-turbulence in front of the VAWT. The parameters for spatial and temporal randomisation of velocity and its effects on the turbine performance are studied for a mean free stream velocity, U ∞ = 10 m/s, and a tip speed ratio (TSR) of 4.1. The mean Coefficient of power (C p ) for randomised fluctuation of 2 m/s and half-cycle randomisation update frequency is 0.411 and for uniform inlet velocity is 0.400. The C p vs. Tip Speed ratio plot suggests that the optimal tip speed ratio for operation is around 4.1 for this particular wind turbine of diameter 1 m, chord 0.06 m, and NACA 0018 airfoils. The effect of randomisation for tip speed ratio λ = 2.5, 3.3, 4.1, and 5.3 on the performance of the turbine is studied. Turbine wake recovers at a faster rate for macro-turbulent conditions and is symmetric when compared to wake generated by uniform velocity inlet. The maximum velocity deficit for a distance behind the turbine, x/d = 8 at TSR (λ) = 4.1 is 46% for randomised inlet and 64% for uniform inlet. The effect of randomisation for λ = 2.5 to 5.3 on the performance of the turbine is analysed. A time-varying gust based on International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Extreme Operating Gust is used to study the effect of fluctuating wind conditions in a turbulent environment. Since real-time conditions often exceed gust factors mentioned by IEC, winds with large gust factors such as 1.50, 1.64, and 1.80 are analysed. With an increase in gust amplitude, U gust = 6 m/s to U gust = 12 m/s on a free stream velocity of U∞ = 10 m/s, the mean C p decreases from 0.41 to 0.35 since the wind turbine operates under tip speed ratios outside optimal range due to large fluctuations in incoming velocity.

Suggested Citation

  • Lakshmi Srinivasan & Nishanth Ram & Sudharshan Bharatwaj Rengarajan & Unnikrishnan Divakaran & Akram Mohammad & Ratna Kishore Velamati, 2023. "Effect of Macroscopic Turbulent Gust on the Aerodynamic Performance of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-24, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:5:p:2250-:d:1081040
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/5/2250/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/5/2250/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. KC, Anup & Whale, Jonathan & Urmee, Tania, 2019. "Urban wind conditions and small wind turbines in the built environment: A review," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 268-283.
    2. Raciti Castelli, Marco & Englaro, Alessandro & Benini, Ernesto, 2011. "The Darrieus wind turbine: Proposal for a new performance prediction model based on CFD," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(8), pages 4919-4934.
    3. Danao, Louis Angelo & Edwards, Jonathan & Eboibi, Okeoghene & Howell, Robert, 2014. "A numerical investigation into the influence of unsteady wind on the performance and aerodynamics of a vertical axis wind turbine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 111-124.
    4. Pagnini, Luisa C. & Burlando, Massimiliano & Repetto, Maria Pia, 2015. "Experimental power curve of small-size wind turbines in turbulent urban environment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 112-121.
    5. Wekesa, David Wafula & Wang, Cong & Wei, Yingjie & Kamau, Joseph N. & Danao, Louis Angelo M., 2015. "A numerical analysis of unsteady inflow wind for site specific vertical axis wind turbine: A case study for Marsabit and Garissa in Kenya," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 648-661.
    6. Wekesa, David Wafula & Wang, Cong & Wei, Yingjie & Danao, Louis Angelo M., 2017. "Analytical and numerical investigation of unsteady wind for enhanced energy capture in a fluctuating free-stream," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 854-864.
    7. Danao, Louis Angelo & Eboibi, Okeoghene & Howell, Robert, 2013. "An experimental investigation into the influence of unsteady wind on the performance of a vertical axis wind turbine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 403-411.
    8. Rezaeiha, Abdolrahim & Kalkman, Ivo & Blocken, Bert, 2017. "CFD simulation of a vertical axis wind turbine operating at a moderate tip speed ratio: Guidelines for minimum domain size and azimuthal increment," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 373-385.
    9. Rezaeiha, Abdolrahim & Montazeri, Hamid & Blocken, Bert, 2019. "On the accuracy of turbulence models for CFD simulations of vertical axis wind turbines," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 838-857.
    10. Emejeamara, F.C. & Tomlin, A.S. & Millward-Hopkins, J.T., 2015. "Urban wind: Characterisation of useful gust and energy capture," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 162-172.
    11. Bausas, Michael D. & Danao, Louis Angelo M., 2015. "The aerodynamics of a camber-bladed vertical axis wind turbine in unsteady wind," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 93(P1), pages 1155-1164.
    12. Lee, Kung-Yen & Tsao, Shao-Hua & Tzeng, Chieh-Wen & Lin, Huei-Jeng, 2018. "Influence of the vertical wind and wind direction on the power output of a small vertical-axis wind turbine installed on the rooftop of a building," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 209(C), pages 383-391.
    13. Wu, Zhenlong & Bangga, Galih & Cao, Yihua, 2019. "Effects of lateral wind gusts on vertical axis wind turbines," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 1212-1223.
    14. Rakib, M.I. & Evans, S.P. & Clausen, P.D., 2020. "Measured gust events in the urban environment, a comparison with the IEC standard," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 1134-1142.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Michał Frant & Stanisław Kachel & Wojciech Maślanka, 2023. "Gust Modeling with State-of-the-Art Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Software and Its Influence on the Aerodynamic Characteristics of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-19, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wu, Zhenlong, 2019. "Rotor power performance and flow physics in lateral sinusoidal gusts," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 917-928.
    2. Bangga, Galih & Dessoky, Amgad & Wu, Zhenlong & Rogowski, Krzysztof & Hansen, Martin O.L., 2020. "Accuracy and consistency of CFD and engineering models for simulating vertical axis wind turbine loads," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    3. Wekesa, David Wafula & Wang, Cong & Wei, Yingjie & Danao, Louis Angelo M., 2017. "Analytical and numerical investigation of unsteady wind for enhanced energy capture in a fluctuating free-stream," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 854-864.
    4. Su, Jie & Chen, Yaoran & Han, Zhaolong & Zhou, Dai & Bao, Yan & Zhao, Yongsheng, 2020. "Investigation of V-shaped blade for the performance improvement of vertical axis wind turbines," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    5. Rezaeiha, Abdolrahim & Kalkman, Ivo & Blocken, Bert, 2017. "Effect of pitch angle on power performance and aerodynamics of a vertical axis wind turbine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 132-150.
    6. Wu, Zhenlong & Bangga, Galih & Cao, Yihua, 2019. "Effects of lateral wind gusts on vertical axis wind turbines," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 1212-1223.
    7. Jinghua Lin & You-Lin Xu & Yong Xia & Chao Li, 2019. "Structural Analysis of Large-Scale Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines, Part I: Wind Load Simulation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-31, July.
    8. José Luis Torres-Madroñero & Joham Alvarez-Montoya & Daniel Restrepo-Montoya & Jorge Mario Tamayo-Avendaño & César Nieto-Londoño & Julián Sierra-Pérez, 2020. "Technological and Operational Aspects That Limit Small Wind Turbines Performance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-39, November.
    9. Lidong Zhang & Kaiqi Zhu & Junwei Zhong & Ling Zhang & Tieliu Jiang & Shaohua Li & Zhongbin Zhang, 2018. "Numerical Investigations of the Effects of the Rotating Shaft and Optimization of Urban Vertical Axis Wind Turbines," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-25, July.
    10. Wekesa, David Wafula & Wang, Cong & Wei, Yingjie, 2016. "Empirical and numerical analysis of small wind turbine aerodynamic performance at a plateau terrain in Kenya," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 377-385.
    11. Emejeamara, F.C. & Tomlin, A.S., 2020. "A method for estimating the potential power available to building mounted wind turbines within turbulent urban air flows," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 787-800.
    12. Xu, Wenhao & Li, Gaohua & Zheng, Xiaobo & Li, Ye & Li, Shoutu & Zhang, Chen & Wang, Fuxin, 2021. "High-resolution numerical simulation of the performance of vertical axis wind turbines in urban area: Part I, wind turbines on the side of single building," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 461-474.
    13. 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).
    14. Hassan, Syed Saddam ul & Javaid, M. Tariq & Rauf, Umar & Nasir, Sheharyar & Shahzad, Aamer & Salamat, Shuaib, 2023. "Systematic investigation of power enhancement of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines using bio-inspired leading edge tubercles," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    15. Barnes, Andrew & Hughes, Ben, 2019. "Determining the impact of VAWT farm configurations on power output," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 1111-1120.
    16. Jin, Xin & Zhao, Gaoyuan & Gao, KeJun & Ju, Wenbin, 2015. "Darrieus vertical axis wind turbine: Basic research methods," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 212-225.
    17. Peng, H.Y. & Lam, H.F., 2016. "Turbulence effects on the wake characteristics and aerodynamic performance of a straight-bladed vertical axis wind turbine by wind tunnel tests and large eddy simulations," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 557-568.
    18. Huang, Huilan & Luo, Jiabin & Li, Gang, 2023. "Study on the optimal design of vertical axis wind turbine with novel variable solidity type for self-starting capability and aerodynamic performance," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).
    19. Liu, Kan & Yu, Meilin & Zhu, Weidong, 2019. "Enhancing wind energy harvesting performance of vertical axis wind turbines with a new hybrid design: A fluid-structure interaction study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 912-927.
    20. Kumar, Rakesh & Raahemifar, Kaamran & Fung, Alan S., 2018. "A critical review of vertical axis wind turbines for urban applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 281-291.

    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:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:5:p:2250-:d:1081040. 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.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.