Volume 1,Issue 1
Investigating Aerodynamic Performance of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines Using Computational Techniques
Abstract: This paper presents a comprehensive aerodynamic analysis of H-Rotor Darrieus and Savonius turbines utilizing advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques. H-Rotor Darrieus turbines, characterized by fixed blades, often encounter challenges with self-starting, while Savonius turbines exhibit good starting capabilities albeit with lower power coefficients (Cp). In this study, the sliding mesh technique was employed to investigate the intricate flow fields over the airfoil geometry, H-Rotor Darrieus turbine, and Savonius turbine. The analysis revealed that Savonius turbine starts generating power at a low wind speed of 2 m/s, while the H-Rotor Darrieus requires a slightly higher wind speed of 3.1 m/s to begin operation. Moreover, the maximum rated power of the H-Rotor Darrieus turbine was found to be 30 watts, which was significantly higher than the Savonius turbine’s maximum rated power of 5 watts. The Cp for H-Rotor Darrieus and Savonius turbines were meticulously determined across a range of tip speed ratios (TSRs), with remarkable peak values of 0.32 and 0.21 achieved at TSRs of 1.69 and 0.75, respectively. The comparison of CFD results with experimental data revealed that the H-Rotor Darrieus configuration consistently outperformed its Savonius counterpart, particularly in high wind speed conditions. The results showed that the maximum absolute difference between the experimental and CFD values is 1.3 watts for the Savonius turbine and 4.5 watts for the H-Rotor Darrieus turbine. These small absolute differences indicate the accuracy and reliability of the simulations. By offering valuable insights into the design configurations, this present study establishes a foundation for achieving superior performance and efficiency in vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT). The high-fidelity analysis provided through CFD simulations proves instrumental in the early design phase, enabling engineers to make informed decisions and refine their designs with greater confidence.
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