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3D CFD Analysis of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

Author

Listed:
  • Andrea Alaimo

    (Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Kore University of Enna, Cittadella Universitaria, 94100 Enna, Italy)

  • Antonio Esposito

    (Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Kore University of Enna, Cittadella Universitaria, 94100 Enna, Italy)

  • Antonio Messineo

    (Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Kore University of Enna, Cittadella Universitaria, 94100 Enna, Italy)

  • Calogero Orlando

    (Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Kore University of Enna, Cittadella Universitaria, 94100 Enna, Italy)

  • Davide Tumino

    (Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Kore University of Enna, Cittadella Universitaria, 94100 Enna, Italy)

Abstract

To analyze the complex and unsteady aerodynamic flow associated with wind turbine functioning, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is an attractive and powerful method. In this work, the influence of different numerical aspects on the accuracy of simulating a rotating wind turbine is studied. In particular, the effects of mesh size and structure, time step and rotational velocity have been taken into account for simulation of different wind turbine geometries. The applicative goal of this study is the comparison of the performance between a straight blade vertical axis wind turbine and a helical blade one. Analyses are carried out through the use of computational fluid dynamic ANSYS® Fluent® software, solving the Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations. At first, two-dimensional simulations are used in a preliminary setup of the numerical procedure and to compute approximated performance parameters, namely the torque, power, lift and drag coefficients. Then, three-dimensional simulations are carried out with the aim of an accurate determination of the differences in the complex aerodynamic flow associated with the straight and the helical blade turbines. Static and dynamic results are then reported for different values of rotational speed.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrea Alaimo & Antonio Esposito & Antonio Messineo & Calogero Orlando & Davide Tumino, 2015. "3D CFD Analysis of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-21, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:8:y:2015:i:4:p:3013-3033:d:48354
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andrea Alaimo & Antonio Esposito & Alberto Milazzo & Calogero Orlando & Flavio Trentacosti, 2013. "Slotted Blades Savonius Wind Turbine Analysis by CFD," Energies, MDPI, vol. 6(12), pages 1-17, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Balduzzi, Francesco & Drofelnik, Jernej & Bianchini, Alessandro & Ferrara, Giovanni & Ferrari, Lorenzo & Campobasso, Michele Sergio, 2017. "Darrieus wind turbine blade unsteady aerodynamics: a three-dimensional Navier-Stokes CFD assessment," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 550-563.
    2. Thé, Jesse & Yu, Hesheng, 2017. "A critical review on the simulations of wind turbine aerodynamics focusing on hybrid RANS-LES methods," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 257-289.
    3. Karimian, S.M.H. & Abdolahifar, Abolfazl, 2020. "Performance investigation of a new Darrieus Vertical Axis Wind Turbine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    4. Ihor Shchur & Volodymyr Klymko & Shengbai Xie & David Schmidt, 2023. "Design Features and Numerical Investigation of Counter-Rotating VAWT with Co-Axial Rotors Displaced from Each Other along the Axis of Rotation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-24, June.
    5. Hand, Brian & Kelly, Ger & Cashman, Andrew, 2021. "Aerodynamic design and performance parameters of a lift-type vertical axis wind turbine: A comprehensive review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    6. Mauro De Marchis & Barbara Milici & Roberto Volpe & Antonio Messineo, 2016. "Energy Saving in Water Distribution Network through Pump as Turbine Generators: Economic and Environmental Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-15, October.
    7. Mohammed Baqer Zaki Yahya Al-quraishi & Shamsul Sarip & Hazilah Mad Kaidi & Jorge Alfredo Ardila-Rey & Firdaus Muhammad-Sukki, 2022. "A CFD Analysis for Novel Close-Ended Deflector for Vertical Water Turbines," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-19, February.
    8. Qian Cheng & Xiaolan Liu & Ho Seong Ji & Kyung Chun Kim & Bo Yang, 2017. "Aerodynamic Analysis of a Helical Vertical Axis Wind Turbine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-17, April.
    9. Fang Feng & Guoqiang Tong & Yunfei Ma & Yan Li, 2021. "Numerical Simulation and Wind Tunnel Investigation on Static Characteristics of VAWT Rotor Starter with Lift-Drag Combined Structure," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-24, September.
    10. 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).
    11. Mohammadreza Asadbeigi & Farzad Ghafoorian & Mehdi Mehrpooya & Sahel Chegini & Azad Jarrahian, 2023. "A 3D Study of the Darrieus Wind Turbine with Auxiliary Blades and Economic Analysis Based on an Optimal Design from a Parametric Investigation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-31, March.
    12. Mohanasundaram Anthony & Valsalal Prasad & Kannadasan Raju & Mohammed H. Alsharif & Zong Woo Geem & Junhee Hong, 2020. "Design of Rotor Blades for Vertical Axis Wind Turbine with Wind Flow Modifier for Low Wind Profile Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-26, September.
    13. Cameron Gerrie & Sheikh Zahidul Islam & Sean Gerrie & Naomi Turner & Taimoor Asim, 2023. "3D CFD Modelling of Performance of a Vertical Axis Turbine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-25, January.
    14. 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.
    15. 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.
    16. Ruiwen Zhao & Angus C. W. Creech & Alistair G. L. Borthwick & Vengatesan Venugopal & Takafumi Nishino, 2020. "Aerodynamic Analysis of a Two-Bladed Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine Using a Coupled Unsteady RANS and Actuator Line Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-26, February.
    17. Wang, Zhenyu & Zhuang, Mei, 2017. "Leading-edge serrations for performance improvement on a vertical-axis wind turbine at low tip-speed-ratios," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 1184-1197.
    18. Li, Qing'an & Maeda, Takao & Kamada, Yasunari & Ogasawara, Tatsuhiko & Nakai, Alisa & Kasuya, Takuji, 2017. "Investigation of power performance and wake on a straight-bladed vertical axis wind turbine with field experiments," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 1113-1123.
    19. 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).
    20. Wenlong Tian & Zhaoyong Mao & Yukai Li, 2017. "Numerical Simulations of a VAWT in the Wake of a Moving Car," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-14, April.
    21. Li, Qingan & Cai, Chang & Maeda, Takao & Kamada, Yasunari & Shimizu, Kento & Dong, Yehong & Zhang, Fanghong & Xu, Jianzhong, 2021. "Visualization of aerodynamic forces and flow field on a straight-bladed vertical axis wind turbine by wind tunnel experiments and panel method," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    22. Li, Qing'an & Maeda, Takao & Kamada, Yasunari & Murata, Junsuke & Kawabata, Toshiaki & Shimizu, Kento & Ogasawara, Tatsuhiko & Nakai, Alisa & Kasuya, Takuji, 2016. "Wind tunnel and numerical study of a straight-bladed vertical axis wind turbine in three-dimensional analysis (Part I: For predicting aerodynamic loads and performance)," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 443-452.
    23. Zanforlin, Stefania & Deluca, Stefano, 2018. "Effects of the Reynolds number and the tip losses on the optimal aspect ratio of straight-bladed Vertical Axis Wind Turbines," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 179-195.
    24. Li, Qing'an & Maeda, Takao & Kamada, Yasunari & Murata, Junsuke & Kawabata, Toshiaki & Shimizu, Kento & Ogasawara, Tatsuhiko & Nakai, Alisa & Kasuya, Takuji, 2016. "Wind tunnel and numerical study of a straight-bladed Vertical Axis Wind Turbine in three-dimensional analysis (Part II: For predicting flow field and performance)," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 295-307.
    25. Pierre Tchakoua & René Wamkeue & Mohand Ouhrouche & Tommy Andy Tameghe & Gabriel Ekemb, 2015. "A New Approach for Modeling Darrieus-Type Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Rotors Using Electrical Equivalent Circuit Analogy: Basis of Theoretical Formulations and Model Development," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-34, September.

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