Influence of Solidity on Vertical Axis Wind Turbines

Abstract

This paper aims to predict the performance of a VAWT. The H-type Darrieus turbine consists of three straight blades with shape of aerofoil attached to a rotating vertical shaft. Bearing in mind the overall flow is characterized by important secondary flows, the turbulence model selected was realizable k-epsilon with non-equilibrium wall functions. Conservation equations were solved with a Third-Order MUSCL scheme using SIMPLE to couple continuity and momentum equations. A parametric study has been carried out to analyse the solidity effect on the non-dimensional curves so that the range of tip speed ratio of operation could be predicted as well as their self-starting behaviour.

Keywords

• VAWT; CFD; solidity; efficiency

Original Research Paper

Abstract

References

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