An Unsteady Prescribed Wake Model for Vertical Axis Wind Turbines

Author(s):  
F N Coton ◽  
D Jiang ◽  
R A McD Galbraith

This paper describes the development of a fully unsteady three-dimensional aerodynamic performance prediction scheme for vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs). The method is based on the prescribed wake approach of Basuno in which the turbine is represented by a series of bound vortex segments from which emanates a wake consisting of shed and trailing vorticity filaments. Unlike a free vortex method, these wake filaments are constrained to follow a predetermined path, the shape of which is dictated by momentum considerations. By coupling this technique with the unsteady aerofoil performance method of Leishman and Beddoes, a fully unsteady V AWT model is developed. The difficulties associated with coupling the two techniques are discussed and a new formulation for the tangential blade force is introduced. The resulting calculation scheme is shown to agree well with field data from a straight bladed vertical axis wind turbine, even at very low tip speed ratios.

Author(s):  
B Basuno ◽  
F N Coton ◽  
R A Galbraith

A new aerodynamic model for the prediction of vertical axis wind turbine performance is introduced. The model is fully three dimensional and is derived from consideration of both momentum and vortex theories. In the calculation process the turbine wake is modelled by a series of shed and trailing vortices. The overall shape of the wake, however, is determined from momentum theory. Comparison is made between the new model and a free vortex method. Although the accuracy levels of the two techniques are equivalent, the prescribed wake model is more than two orders of magnitude faster. The prescribed wake model is also shown to compare well with field data. Finally, the future development of the model is discussed.


Author(s):  
Maurizio Collu ◽  
Michael Borg ◽  
Andrew Shires ◽  
Feargal P. Brennan

In the present article, progress on the development of an aero-hydro-servo-elastic coupled model of dynamics for floating Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs) is presented, called FloVAWT (Floating Vertical Axis Wind Turbine). Aerodynamics is based on Paraschivoiu’s Double-Multiple Streamtube (DMST) model [1] [2], relying on blade element momentum (BEM) theory, but also taking into account three-dimensional effects, dynamic stall, and unsteady wind profiles and platform motions. Hydrodynamics is modelled with a time domain seakeeping model [3], based on hydrodynamic coefficients estimated with a frequency analysis potential method. In this first phase of the research program, the system is considered a rigid body. The mooring system is represented through a user defined force-displacement relationship. Due to the lack of experimental data on offshore floating VAWTs, the model has initially been validated by taking each module separately and comparing it against known experimental data, showing good agreement. The capabilities of the program are illustrated through a case study, giving an insight on the relative importance of aerodynamics loads and gyroscopic effects with respect to hydrodynamic load effects.


Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Zheng Yuan ◽  
Jin Jiang ◽  
Jun Zang ◽  
Qihu Sheng ◽  
Ke Sun ◽  
...  

In the array design of the vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT), the wake effect of the upstream VAWT on the downstream VAWT needs to be considered. In order to simulate the velocity distribution of a VAWT wake rapidly, a new two-dimensional numerical method is proposed, which can make the array design easier and faster. In this new approach, the finite vortex method and vortex particle method are combined to simulate the generation and evolution of the vortex, respectively, the fast multipole method (FMM) is used to accelerate the calculation. Based on a characteristic of the VAWT wake, that is, the velocity distribution can be fitted into a power-law function, a new correction model is introduced to correct the three-dimensional effect of the VAWT wake. Finally, the simulation results can be approximated to the published experimental results in the first-order. As a new numerical method to simulate the complex VAWT wake, this paper proves the feasibility of the method and makes a preliminary validation. This method is not used to simulate the complex three-dimensional turbulent evolution but to simulate the velocity distribution quickly and relatively accurately, which meets the requirement for rapid simulation in the preliminary array design.


Author(s):  
Xiaomin Chen ◽  
Ramesh Agarwal

In this paper, we consider the Wind Farm layout optimization problem using a genetic algorithm. Both the Horizontal–Axis Wind Turbines (HAWT) and Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines (VAWT) are considered. The goal of the optimization problem is to optimally place the turbines within the wind farm such that the wake effects are minimized and the power production is maximized. The reasonably accurate modeling of the turbine wake is critical in determination of the optimal layout of the turbines and the power generated. For HAWT, two wake models are considered; both are found to give similar answers. For VAWT, a very simple wake model is employed.


2021 ◽  
pp. 0309524X2110618
Author(s):  
Syed Abdur Rahman Tahir ◽  
Muhammad Shakeel Virk

Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) can be a promising solution for electricity production in remote ice prone territories of high north, where good wind resources are available, but icing is a challenge that can affect its optimum operation. A lot of research has been made to study the icing effects on the conventional horizontal axis wind turbines, but the literature about vertical axis wind turbines operating in icing conditions is still scarce, despite the importance of this topic. This paper presents a review study about existing knowledge of VAWT operation in icing condition. Focus has been made in better understanding of ice accretion physics along VAWT blades and methods to detect and mitigate icing effects.


2021 ◽  
Vol 897 (1) ◽  
pp. 012001
Author(s):  
Oleg Goman ◽  
Andrii Dreus ◽  
Anton Rozhkevych ◽  
Krystyna Heti

Abstract Until recently, vertical-axis wind turbines are less extensively developed in wind energetics. At the same time, there are a number of advantages in turbines of such type like their independence from the change of wind direction, lower levels of aerodynamic and infrasound noises, higher structural reliability (compared to horizontal engines), etc. With these advantages, vertical-axis wind turbines demonstrate promising capacities. Inter alia, the productiveness of such turbines can be refined through the aerodynamic improvement of the structure and comprehensive optimization of the rotor geometry. The main purpose of the presented paper is to aerodynamically improve vertical wind turbine in order to increase the efficiency of wind energy conversion into electricity. Within the framework of the classical theory of impulses, this article presents a study of the effect of variation in Reynolds number on the general energy characteristics of a vertical-axis wind turbine with two blades. The integral approach makes it possible to use a single-disk impulse model to determine the main specific indicators of the system. The power factor was calculated based on the obtained value of the shaft torque factor, which in turn was determined by numerically integrating the total torque generated by the wind turbine. To calculate the test problem, we used the classic NACA airfoils: 0012, 0015, 0018 and 0021. The proposed calculation algorithm makes it possible not to indicate the Reynolds number and corresponding aerodynamic coefficients at the beginning of the calculation, but to recalculate it depending on the relative speed, position of the airfoil and the linear speed of the airfoil around the circumference. Proposed modern design techniques can be helpful for optimization of vertical wind turbines.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 053301
Author(s):  
Zhenzhou Zhao ◽  
Decheng Su ◽  
Tongguang Wang ◽  
Bofeng Xu ◽  
Hao Wu ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Zhenlong Wu ◽  
Yihua Cao

Rainfall is a common meteorological condition that wind turbines may encounter and by which their performance may be affected. This paper comprehensively investigates the effects of rainfall on a NACA 0015 airfoil which is commonly used in vertical axis wind turbines. A CFD-based Eulerian–Lagrangian multiphase approach is proposed to study the static, rotating, and oscillating performances of the NACA 0015 airfoil in rainy conditions. It is found that for the different airfoil movements, the airfoil performance can seriously be deteriorated in the rain condition. Rain also causes premature boundary layer separations and more severe flow recirculations than in the dry condition. These findings seem to be the first open reports on rain effects on wind turbine performance and should be of some significance to practical design.


2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Cevasco ◽  
M Collu ◽  
CM Rizzo ◽  
M Hall

Despite several potential advantages, relatively few studies and design support tools have been developed for floating vertical axis wind turbines. Due to the substantial aerodynamics differences, the analyses of vertical axis wind turbine on floating structures cannot be easily extended from what have been already done for horizontal axis wind turbines. Therefore, the main aim of the present work is to compare the dynamic response of the floating offshore wind turbine system adopting two different mooring dynamics approaches. Two versions of the in-house aero-hydro-mooring coupled model of dynamics for floating vertical axis wind turbine (FloVAWT) have been used, employing a mooring quasi-static model, which solves the equations using an energetic approach, and a modified version of floating vertical axis wind turbine, which instead couples with the lumped mass mooring line model MoorDyn. The results, in terms of mooring line tension, fatigue and response in frequency have been obtained and analysed, based on a 5 MW Darrieus type rotor supported by the OC4-DeepCwind semisubmersible.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 168781401879954
Author(s):  
Soo-Yong Cho ◽  
Sang-Kyu Choi ◽  
Jin-Gyun Kim ◽  
Chong-Hyun Cho

In order to augment the performance of vertical axis wind turbines, wind power towers have been used because they increase the frontal area. Typically, the wind power tower is installed as a circular column around a vertical axis wind turbine because the vertical axis wind turbine should be operated in an omnidirectional wind. As a result, the performance of the vertical axis wind turbine depends on the design parameters of the wind power tower. An experimental study was conducted in a wind tunnel to investigate the optimal design parameters of the wind power tower. Three different sizes of guide walls were applied to test with various wind power tower design parameters. The tested vertical axis wind turbine consisted of three blades of the NACA0018 profile and its solidity was 0.5. In order to simulate the operation in omnidirectional winds, the wind power tower was fabricated to be rotated. The performance of the vertical axis wind turbine was severely varied depending on the azimuthal location of the wind power tower. Comparison of the performance of the vertical axis wind turbine was performed based on the power coefficient obtained by averaging for the one periodic azimuth angle. The optimal design parameters were estimated using the results obtained under equal experimental conditions. When the non-dimensional inner gap was 0.3, the performance of the vertical axis wind turbine was better than any other gaps.


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