CFD Calculation of Wind Turbines Power Variations in Urban Areas

Abstract:

Integrating wind turbines in urban areas especially over buildings is a new way of producing electricity which is supported in recent years. Wind turbines sited well above the roof of buildings operate in skewed flow. In this paper, to examine variations in efficiency of wind turbines in this condition, two models of H-Rotor and horizontal axis wind turbine analyzed based on axial momentum theory through computer simulations. Simulations conducted through CFD method and k-ε turbulence model was utilized to analyze flow fluctuations in Navier-Stokes equations. Models show that, for an H-Rotor, the optimal power output in tilted flow can be up to two times the power output of horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT).

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 622-623)
• Pages: 1084-1088
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.622-623.1084
• Online since: December 2012
• Authors: Jafar Bazrafshan, Payam Sabaeifard, Farid Khalafi, Majid Jamil
• Keywords: Axial Momentum Theory, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Power Coefficient (CP), Urban Wind Energy, Wind Turbine (WT)

References

[1] S. Watson et al, Predicting the Performance of Small Wind Turbines in the Roof-Top Urban Environment, European Wind Energy Conference, (2007).

[2] M. Ragheb, Wind Turbines in the Urban Environment, MSc Thesis, JSC, (2008).

[3] C.J. Simao Ferreira et al, An Analytical Method to Predict the Variation in Performance of a H-Darrieus in Skewed Flow and Its Experimental Validation, European Wind Energy Conference, (2006).

[4] G. Easom, Improved Turbulence Models for Computational Wind Engineering, PhD Thesis in University of Nottingham, January (2000).

[5] T. Cebeci et al, Computational Fluid Dynamics for Engineers, Springer publishing Ltd, England, (2005).

[6] J.H. Ferzigel et al, Computational Methods for Fluid Dynamics, Springer publishing Ltd, England, (2002).

[7] J.F. Manwell, J.G. McGowan, A.L. Rogers, Wind Energy Explained, John Wiley & Sons Ltd., England, (2010).

[8] T. Burton et al, Wind Energy Handbook, J. Wiley & sons Ltd., England, (2001).

[9] B. G Newman, Multiple actuator-disc theory for wind turbines, Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, Volume 24, Issue 3, October 1986, Pages 215-225.

DOI: 10.1016/0167-6105(86)90023-1

[10] S. Mertens, Wind Energy Conversion in the Built Environment, Delft University of Technology Report, (2007).