Aerodynamic performance enhancement and computational methods for H-Darrieus vertical axis wind turbines: Review

ABSTRACT

The wind is one of the most promising green energy resources that replenishes itselves in less than a human lifetime without depleting the planet’s resources. According to the disposition of the blade concerning the shaft, wind turbine can be classified as horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) and vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT). In contrast to VAWT, HAWT covers most commercial installations around the globe. However, VAWTs became a promising alternative for areas far away from grid-connected electricity, they have certain drawbacks associated with aerodynamic performance. The present work overviews the magnitude of factors affecting the aerodynamics of typical VAWT, i.e H-Darrieus VAWT and enhancement options associated with cutting edge performance. Additionally, the accuracy of the turbine performance predicting tools through computational investigation and optimization was also assessed. Therefore, the review covered the factors that altered the turbine performance and viable enhancement options studied in the existing literature. Finally, FSI simulation was tics of materials commonly used for turbine blade manufacturing. It was determined that the computational tools employed significantly influence the accuracy of the model, and proper model selection and more experimental validations are compulsory. It was determined that the computational tools employed significantly influence the accuracy of the model, and proper model selection and more experimental validations are compulsory.

KEYWORDS:

• H-Darrieus vertical axis wind turbine
• blade element momentum (BEM)
• computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
• aerodynamic performance
• fluid-structure interaction (FSI)
• natural fiber-reinforced composite
• artificial intelligence (AI)

Nomenclatures

AoA Angle of attack

AR Aspect ratio

BC Before Christ

BEM Blade element momentum

CFD Computational fluid dynamics

DES Detached Eddy Simulation

DC Direct current

DMST Double multiple stream tube

FEM Finite element method

FP Fixed pitch

FRC Fiber-reinforced composite

FSI Fluid-structure interaction

GPA Giga Pascal

GRF Glass-reinforced fiber

GW Giga watt

HAWT Horizontal axis wind turbine

KN Kilo newton

LES Large Eddy Simulation

MST Multiple stream tube

MW Megawatt

NREL National renewable energy laboratory

NRFC Natural reinforced fiber composite

NS Navier Stoke

SNL Sandia National Laboratories

SST Shear stress transport

ST Stream tube

TSR Tip speed ratio

URANS Unsteady Reynolds averaged Navier Stoke

VAWT Vertical axis wind turbine

VP Variable pitch

WT Wind turbine

Symbols

Cm Moment coefficient

Cp Power coefficient

C_T Instantaneous torque coefficient

cn Normal force coefficient

ct Tangential force coefficient

α Angle of attack

β Pitch angle

λ Tip speed ratio

φ Incident angle

θ Azimuth angle

σ Rotor solidity

a Upstream induction factor

a’ Downstream induction factor

2D Two-dimensional

3D Three-dimensional

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).