Aerodynamics of vertical axis wind turbines

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Two of the main engineering limits on wind turbine utilization are power performance, particularly for smaller turbines, and aerodynamically driven vibration for both large and small turbines. The proposed research program is an investigation of the aerodynamics of vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs). Emphasis here is on medium- and high-solidity turbines where higher solidities can be used to lower turbine rotational speeds, reducing noise and allowing better avoidance of resonance vibration. Higher solidities, however, lead to very complex flows through the turbine and around the blades, including: high blade angles of attack, dynamic stall with massive flow separation, blade-wake interactions and non-uniform diversion of the wind around the turbine. The unsteady aerodynamic loads from these flows have components that both provide turbine power and excite vibrations. My group is one of only two in the world examining vibration excitation as well as turbine power even though turbine vibration has been the main impediment to the extensive use of VAWTs. The objectives of this research program are to increase understanding of the flows around these turbines, and exploit those flows to produce lower vibration, higher efficiency turbines.