Effect of stator blades on the startup dynamics of a vertical axis wind turbine.

Asim, Taimoor; Singh, Dharminder; Siddiqui, M. Salman; McGlinchey, Don

Abstract

Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs) are omni-directional, low-cost, low-efficiency wind power extractors. A conventional drag-based VAWT consists of multiple thin rotor blades with a typical peak Tip Speed Ratio (λ) of less than 1. Their lower cut-in speed and maintenance cost make them ideal for power generation in urban environments. Numerous studies have been carried out analysing steady operation of VAWTs and quantifying their performance characteristics; however, minimal attention has been paid to their start-up dynamics. There are a few recent studies in which start-up dynamics of lift-based VAWTs have been analysed, but such studies for drag-based VAWTs are severely limited. In this study, start-up dynamics of a conventional multi-blade drag-based VAWT have been numerically investigated using a time-dependant Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) solver. In order to enhance the start-up characteristics of the drag-based VAWT, a stator has been integrated in the design assembly. The numerical results obtained in this study indicate that an appropriately designed stator can significantly enhance the start-up of a VAWT by directing the flow towards the rotor blades, leading to higher rotational velocity (ω) and λ. With the addition of a stator, the flow fields downstream the VAWT becomes more uniform.

Citation

ASIM, T., SINGH, D., SIDDIQUI, M.S. and MCGLINCHEY, D. 2022. Effect of stator blades on the startup dynamics of a vertical axis wind turbine. Energies [online], 15(21), 8135. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/en15218135

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 28, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Oct 31, 2022
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Oct 28, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 28, 2022
• Journal: Energies
• Electronic ISSN: 1996-1073
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 15
• Issue: 21
• Article Number: 8135
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/en15218135
• Keywords: Vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT); Wind turbines; Computational fluid dynamics (CFD); Turbine start-up dynamics; Tip speed ratio; Start-up dynamics; Dynamic meshing
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/1791802