Files and links (1)
PDFOpen Access (License Unspecified), Open Access
Thesis
Simulations of vertical axis wind turbine blades
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Jun 2011
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-3725
Abstract
With mounting global pressure for sustainable energy technologies, there is a growing need to restructure traditional wind, solar and geothermal technologies to increase deployment over a greater range of conditions. Although efficient under open conditions, Traditional horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs) are not optimal for use in dense urban settings where wind speed and direction are more variable. Conversely, vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) can take advantage of incoming wind from any angle, and typically perform better at lower wind speeds associated with the topography of existing infrastructure. A new hybrid blade, blending Darrieus and Savonius qualities, has been investigated using numerical and computational fluid dynamics methods. Transient computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed using a 0.75 meter diameter wind turbine. A second investigation used the double multiple streamtube model implemented in MATLAB to study a turbine's output under various wind speeds and turbine sizes. The results indicate that the hybrid blade performs better in lower wind speeds compared to the standard NACA0012 blade typically used on VAWTs, with a predicted 7% increase in gross power in 8 m/s wind.
Metrics
56 File views/ downloads
39 Record Views
Details
- Title
- Simulations of vertical axis wind turbine blades
- Creators
- Steven Robert Helms - DU
- Contributors
- Bradley E. Layton (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- College of Engineering (1970-2026); Mechanical Engineering (and Mechanics) [Historical]; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 3725; 991014632420804721