Innovating Wind Energy: Analyzing the Efficiency and Performance of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines
Presentation Type
Poster
Faculty Advisor
Ashuwin Vaidya
Access Type
Event
Start Date
26-4-2024 11:15 AM
End Date
26-4-2024 12:15 PM
Description
This research builds on previous work done at the Complex Fluids Laboratory at Montclair State University. This includes work done in the laboratory using small scale models in a wind tunnel and controlled autorotation experiments of small particles in a flow tank. This current project seeks to explore further refinement on the design and configuration of vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) based on commercially available models and newer designs. Work on small scale models in the laboratory helps us begin to understand the physics and real world performance through controlled experiments in the wind tunnel. This helps us build the foundation of continuing these experiments using computational fluid dynamic (CFD) software. With CFD software, the physics behind the turbines can be better modeled and visualized for experiments that cannot be performed in the laboratory. With the assistance of CFD software we can calculate relevant forces, torques, RPM, velocities, and other physics phenomena that can help to conclude the most optimal design and configuration regarding power generation and efficiency. This work hopes to be able to further apply these methods into development of wind farms/ arrays using optimal designs based on single VAWT experiments and simulations. Using CFD software helps reduce cost and saves time from changing models physically to get similar conditions in a simulation and notice similar patterns in simulations such as change in number of blades, sizing of the blades, shape, gap between the blades, and change in other design features.
Innovating Wind Energy: Analyzing the Efficiency and Performance of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines
This research builds on previous work done at the Complex Fluids Laboratory at Montclair State University. This includes work done in the laboratory using small scale models in a wind tunnel and controlled autorotation experiments of small particles in a flow tank. This current project seeks to explore further refinement on the design and configuration of vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) based on commercially available models and newer designs. Work on small scale models in the laboratory helps us begin to understand the physics and real world performance through controlled experiments in the wind tunnel. This helps us build the foundation of continuing these experiments using computational fluid dynamic (CFD) software. With CFD software, the physics behind the turbines can be better modeled and visualized for experiments that cannot be performed in the laboratory. With the assistance of CFD software we can calculate relevant forces, torques, RPM, velocities, and other physics phenomena that can help to conclude the most optimal design and configuration regarding power generation and efficiency. This work hopes to be able to further apply these methods into development of wind farms/ arrays using optimal designs based on single VAWT experiments and simulations. Using CFD software helps reduce cost and saves time from changing models physically to get similar conditions in a simulation and notice similar patterns in simulations such as change in number of blades, sizing of the blades, shape, gap between the blades, and change in other design features.