Capitalizing on the benefits of vertical-axis wind turbines for remote communities

该提案旨在利用Darrieus型垂直轴风力涡轮机（VAWTs）为偏远社区带来的好处。偏远的离网社区需要可靠的可再生能源，以减少对柴油的严重依赖。特别是，加拿大北方在秋季和冬季有很好的风速机会（加拿大风能地图）。风能是一种可行的解决方案，VAWT是建筑环境中风力发电的理想选择。它们是全方位的，即使风向变化很大，也可以发电，而不需要偏航机构。因此，它们具有较低的机械复杂性，并产生较低的资本和维护成本，是偏远社区的理想选择。与传统的水平轴风力涡轮机（HAWT）相比，它们的噪音也更小。此外，与HAWT相比，VAWT具有更小的占地面积，因为它们可以由于其更快的尾流恢复而更密集地聚集。与HAWT相比，它们的重心较低，因为齿轮箱和发电机安装在地面上。这使得VAWT的安装更简单、更便宜。该项目的主要目的是展示小型VAWT的高能量输出，将其集成到建筑环境中，特别关注魁北克省偏远社区的安装。通过数值和风洞实验研究，我们将研究一些新概念的可行性，如合成射流，叶片变形，以提高自启动能力，减轻动态失速，并尽量减少叶片上的积冰。此外，我们亦会就建筑物内涡轮机的最佳位置进行数值及实地研究，以达致最大的发电量。

The proposal aims to capitalize on the benefits of Darrieus-type vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) for remote communities. Remote off-grid communities need a reliable, renewable source of energy to reduce their considerable reliance on diesel. In particular, Northern Canada has excellent wind speed opportunities over the fall and winter (Canada Wind Energy Map). Wind energy is a viable solution, and VAWTs are an ideal choice for generating power from wind in built environments. They are omnidirectional and can generate power even if the wind direction is highly variable, without needing a yaw mechanism. Thus, they have less mechanical complexity and incur lower capital and maintenance costs, ideal in remote communities. They are also less noisy compared to conventional horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs). Moreover, VAWTs have a smaller footprint compared to HAWTs since they can be clustered more densely due to their faster wake recovery. They have a lower center of gravity compared to HAWTs since the gearbox and generator are installed on the ground. This makes VAWTs simpler and cheaper for installation. This project primarily aims to demonstrate high energy output of small-scale VAWTs integrated into built environment with a particular focus on installations in Québec's remote communities. Through numerical and wind tunnel experimental studies, we will examine the viability of some novel concepts, such as synthetic jet flow, and blade morphing for enhancing the self-starting capability, mitigating dynamic stall, and minimizing ice accretion over the blades. Numerical and field studies will also be conducted on the optimal placement of a turbine on the building to achieve the maximum power output.